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PSPKK1238 Comments

3D shape sorting mats

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Looking for sorting mats to help children recognize 3D shapes in real life? Here you go!

Lately I’ve shared a variety of activities for teaching children to recognize 3D shapes. Here’s another math center to add to your collection!

To prepare the center, laminate the mats and cards. Then cut apart. You can make this center extra fun by applying clear Velcro dots to the cards and mats.

To make the activity easier, use just a few mats and their accompanying cards at one time. I knew my first grader could handle the whole set, so we worked with all seven mats.

Some of the pictures are easy to identify. An ice cream cone is, of course, a cone.

But some are trickier – like this metronome. My Six put it on the cone mat to start, but I helped him see that a cone has a circle for a base, while the metronome has a square.

Eventually we found its proper home – the pyramid mat.

We hope you and your students enjoy this fun math center!

Teaching tips

  • Have students work in pairs. They can take turns naming the pictures and applying them to the proper mat. If one child disagrees with the other’s choice, teach him or her the proper way to disagree. “I don’t think it belongs on that mat. Let’s see if the shapes are the same.”
  • Provide 3D manipulatives (we like this affordable set) so students can examine them more closely.
  • If this activity is too difficult, it might be best to back up. Grab a set of 3D shapes and use our 3D shape worksheets.

Get your free 3D shape sorting mats!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

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Filed Under: General, Colors, shapes & patterns, Math Tagged With: first grade, second grade, kindergarten, 3D shapes

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2D and 3D shape games

Reader Interactions

8 Comments

  1. Stefanie

    September 9, 2018 at 7:32 pm

    Just found your site today and I love it!! Thanks for your activities and for giving them away! I spend so much money on my classroom every day, so this is a great blessing to me! They are fun, engaging, and creative!!

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna G

      September 13, 2018 at 5:11 pm

      You’re welcome, Stefanie!

      Reply to this comment
  2. shehzi

    March 15, 2018 at 7:44 am

    I glade to visit this

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna G

      March 15, 2018 at 6:52 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Shehzi!

      Reply to this comment
  3. Jess

    April 9, 2017 at 9:24 pm

    OMG I have just found your page and I’m in love with it!! I’m so excited I don’t know where to start!! Thank-you so much for putting all of these amazing learning tools on offer. I can’t wait to give them a go with my girls.

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      April 13, 2017 at 5:31 am

      Yay – I’m so glad you found my site, Jess! Have fun browsing! 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  4. Adebola

    April 9, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    I appreciate all the work sheets and tops I get here. It has helped me to teach my2yrs and 5yr old sons. Am also able to help other kids. Thanks for all your efforts and passion you put in.

    Reply to this comment
    • Anna Geiger

      April 13, 2017 at 5:33 am

      I’m so glad you can use my materials with your boys, Adebola!

      Reply to this comment

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