Shapes and Patterns: Easy Ways to Build Early Math Thinking

By the Print and Learn team · 4 min read

Long before children add and subtract, they need to notice how things are arranged. Recognizing shapes and spotting patterns are both part of this early math thinking.

Shapes are everywhere

• Start with circles, squares and triangles. Rectangles, ovals and stars come next.
• Name shapes in real objects. A plate is a circle, a window might be a square, a slice of pizza is a triangle.
• Talk about features. "A triangle has three sides. Let's count them." This helps children recognize a triangle even when it is turned upside down.
• Build shapes. Make them with sticks, straws or your fingers.

Patterns: what comes next?

Patterns teach children to look for rules and make predictions, which is the heart of mathematical thinking.

• Start with AB patterns: red, blue, red, blue.
• Move to AAB or ABC: clap, clap, stomp; apple, banana, cherry.
• Use sounds and movement as well as objects. Patterns don't have to be seen.
• Let your child make patterns for you to continue, and make deliberate mistakes for them to catch.

Worksheets to try

• Match the Shapes: a first shape-recognition activity.
• Match the Shape (LKG): more shapes, a little more challenge.
• What Comes Next? and What Comes Next? (LKG) for patterns.
• Color and Count: combines colors, shapes and counting.