Special Thanks To
The research reported here was supported by the above funding agencies.
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Any opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the agencies.
Feely Box [Side Recognizer]
Learning Objective: Children determine which shape has been hidden in a box by feeling how many sides it has. (This Building Blocks activity and modified in a research project* building activities that develop both mathematics and executive function competencies.)*Development and Research in Early Mathematics Education (DREME)
Trajectory: 2D Shapes
Level: Side Recognizer
Type: Whole Group, Small Group, & Center
Activity
Preparation
- If making your own Feely Box, cut a hole in the side of a shoe box or similarly sized opaque container with a lid. It should have an opening big enough for a child to fit both hands inside, but not see the shapes.
- You may use a non-transparent bag as well.
- It may be useful to introduce the shapes before beginning the activity.
Activity
- Select a variety of shapes (at this level circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles).
- Assign one child to be the “hider” (using the shapes role card if you’d like) and the other child to be the “feeler” (the box and hand role card).
- The feeler closes their eyes while the hider hides one shape in the Feely Box.
- Instruct the feeler to reach into the box and feel the hidden shape. Without pulling the shape out, have the child answer,
- “How many sides does the shape have?”
- “What is the name of the shape?”
- If the child reaching into the box does not know the shape name, the other child(ren) can try to name the shape based on the description.???
- Once the feeler makes their guess, let them pull out the shape to check if the number of sides matches the child’s number and if they correctly named it.??
- If the child was correct, ask, “How did you know?”
- If the guess was incorrect, count the sides together and discuss how that helps you know what shape it is.?
- Remove the shape from the game, so every shape is only used once.??
- Repeat until every child has had at least 1 turn as the hider and the feeler.?
Adaptation Suggestions
Use with bigger, thicker shapes that are easier to handle, like cardboard or magnetic plastic tiles to support children's fine motor development.
Print out a sheet with a picture of each shape so children can answer by pointing to it on the sheet.
Help children learn the signs for each shape to answer.
Teaching Tips
- For more information reagrding DREME visit: https://dreme.stanford.edu/projects/math
Materials
Feely Box or Bag
Shape Set
Optional
- Shape Glossary
- Feely Box Step Icons
- Introducing Shapes
Remember to use formative assessment to scaffold children's thinking along the developmental progression so that all children have the opportunity to engage with challenging mathematics.
Differentiating Instructions
For children who need support
- Use only shapes with different amounts of sides (e.g., 1 triangle, 1 rectangle).
- Before playing, model how to hold the shape in one hand and use the others to count angles and sides.
- See a version of this game at Shape Recognizer – Circles, Squares, Triangles.
For children who need a challenge
- Use shapes with the same number of sides (e.g., multiple types of quadrilaterals).??
- Use less-familiar shapes with more sides (e.g., hexagon, pentagon, octagon, etc.).?
- Push children to use correct shapes vocabulary, such as, equal or same length, curved, and straight.
- Ask challenging probing questions such as, "What makes you think It's a square and not a rectangle?"
- See a version of this game at Most Attributes Comparer.
Feely Box [Side Recognizer]
Objetivo de Aprendizaje: Children determine which shape has been hidden in a box by feeling how many sides it has. (This Building Blocks activity and modified in a research project* building activities that develop both mathematics and executive function competencies.)*Development and Research in Early Mathematics Education (DREME)
Trayectoria: Formas 2D
Nivel: Reconocedor de Lados
Tipo: Grupo Entero, Grupo Pequeño, y Centro
Actividad
Preparation
- If making your own Feely Box, cut a hole in the side of a shoe box or similarly sized opaque container with a lid. It should have an opening big enough for a child to fit both hands inside, but not see the shapes.
- You may use a non-transparent bag as well.
- It may be useful to introduce the shapes before beginning the activity.
Activity
- Select a variety of shapes (at this level circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles).
- Assign one child to be the “hider” (using the shapes role card if you’d like) and the other child to be the “feeler” (the box and hand role card).
- The feeler closes their eyes while the hider hides one shape in the Feely Box.
- Instruct the feeler to reach into the box and feel the hidden shape. Without pulling the shape out, have the child answer,
- “How many sides does the shape have?”
- “What is the name of the shape?”
- If the child reaching into the box does not know the shape name, the other child(ren) can try to name the shape based on the description.???
- Once the feeler makes their guess, let them pull out the shape to check if the number of sides matches the child’s number and if they correctly named it.??
- If the child was correct, ask, “How did you know?”
- If the guess was incorrect, count the sides together and discuss how that helps you know what shape it is.?
- Remove the shape from the game, so every shape is only used once.??
- Repeat until every child has had at least 1 turn as the hider and the feeler.?
Sugerencias de Adaptación
Use with bigger, thicker shapes that are easier to handle, like cardboard or magnetic plastic tiles to support children's fine motor development.
Print out a sheet with a picture of each shape so children can answer by pointing to it on the sheet.
Help children learn the signs for each shape to answer.
Consejos de Enseñanza
- For more information reagrding DREME visit: https://dreme.stanford.edu/projects/math
Materiales
Caja or Bolsa de Tacto
Conjunto de Formas
Opcional
- Glosario de formas
- Iconos de pasos de Feely Box
- Introduciendo formas
Recuerde utilizar la evaluación formativa para apoyar el pensamiento de los niños a lo largo de su desarrollo, de modo que todos tengan la oportunidad de involucrarse con matemáticas desafiantes.
Instrucción Diferenciada
Para niños que necesitan apoyo
- Use only shapes with different amounts of sides (e.g., 1 triangle, 1 rectangle).
- Before playing, model how to hold the shape in one hand and use the others to count angles and sides.
- See a version of this game at Shape Recognizer – Circles, Squares, Triangles.
Para niños que necesitan un desafío
- Use shapes with the same number of sides (e.g., multiple types of quadrilaterals).??
- Use less-familiar shapes with more sides (e.g., hexagon, pentagon, octagon, etc.).?
- Push children to use correct shapes vocabulary, such as, equal or same length, curved, and straight.
- Ask challenging probing questions such as, "What makes you think It's a square and not a rectangle?"
- See a version of this game at Most Attributes Comparer.