The Shape of Things Chalk Drawings

shape chalk drawing

Shapes are found, identified, and drawn in all preschool classrooms! Discovering just how often circles, squares, and triangles occur in our everyday life make them relevant to children. When a concept is applicable to the learner, it is easier to retain the knowledge. Let’s show our students shapes all around them!

shapes art chalk for preschool

The Shape of Things

The Shape of Things by Dayle Ann Dodds presents two-dimensional shapes with bright illustrations and repeated rhyming phrases. The repetitive pattern of this book allows preschoolers to become active participants in the reading. Shapes are identified, then turned into art as details are added in an inspiring creative way. This provides the perfect opportunity for an invitation for kids to create with shapes, too!

shapes art activity outdoors

Explore Shapes

You will need:

chalk shapes activity

After reading The Shape of Things with your preschoolers, take them outside to discover shapes that a teacher (or other adult) has drawn with sidewalk chalk. Take a walk around the shapes identifying them by name as you go. You can even assess children’s knowledge by inviting them to participate in gross motor play on the shapes. “Can you hop on a circle? Great! Now tiptoe to the closest triangle.”

create shape pictures for prek

Remind children how the illustrator in The Shape of Things turned regular two-dimensional shapes into beautiful art by adding details. Choose one shape and demonstrate this creative exercise. “What could a triangle become? I’ll turn this triangle into an ice cream cone by drawing a scoop on top! Yum!”

shape art activity chalk drawing

Transform Shapes into Pictures

Hand out the chalk and invite children to turn the shapes into their own creations! We turned a rectangle into a hospital, an oval into an elephant’s body, and a circle into a pizza. If students need prompting, you can name categories that they might remember from the book or be inspired to create themselves. “Can you think of a food that is a circle? What about something that travels from place to place? A place that you like to visit? Can you draw an animal with that shape?” Be sure to invite kids to look back at the book for even more inspiration!

shape of things book activity

Take a before and after picture of the shapes to see the creativity behind this art invitation for kids! I’m sure children would be delighted to show and tell their parents and caregivers what they drew, too.

drawing shapes preschool

BIO: Devany LeDrew is a former kindergarten teacher who writes at Still Playing School where she shares play based learning activities. She specializes in fine motor activities and has co-authored two books of fine motor ideas! Follow Still Playing School for more engaging educational ideas on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!

More Ideas for Shapes
Shape Wands Math Activity
Make a Tortilla Shape Snack
Create a Shapes Photo Book
Shape Exploration for Kids

Shapes PInterest Board
Follow my Shapes Pinterest Board for more great ideas!

1 thought on “The Shape of Things Chalk Drawings”

  1. Vicki Kouchnerkavich

    Thanks for the inspiration to create a Math & Science Storytime using this idea and the book for the upcoming fall series at the public library I work at.

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