Shapin' Up our Shape Attributes

I know I'm not the only one who has officially started their countdown to summer...or am I? We have 33 days and counting! This week was our review week before report cards are due, so I took some extra time to plan some {much needed} fun, hands-on whole group activities for math.

Reviewing previously taught skills and concepts is sometimes hard for me to do.  I find myself pressing on to the next skill that needs to be taught. A lot of my reviewing is done through math tubs where they play games and/or centers while I work with small groups.

I wanted to share with you an activity we did to "shape up" our ability to identify shape attributes! Yes, I just said that...ha!

I pre-cut out shapes (2 triangles, 2 squares, 2 rectangles, 2 circles) and had the students help me name the shapes. We dug down deep into our schema {I'm talking beginning of the year y'all} and discussed what attributes of shapes were: corners, sides, etc. 

I put them into groups and had them grab a pencil.  For each shape they visited, they had to write down one attribute about that shape, and if it was already written, they had to come up with something new.

Since there were 2 of each shape, they returned to the shape they started with and I paired those two groups up to compare what the class had written on their shapes. Of course, I had them share with the entire class because I love to see their little brains teach one another...yes, they get more out of it instead of hearing the words fumble out of my mouth for the thousandth time!

Are there any "go-to" activities you use that get your students thinking? I would love to hear about them!