Valentine's Day Preschool Math Lesson Plan
How to Teach Shapes Using the Book A Circle Is Not a Valentine
Feb 3, 2009
H. Werner Zimmermann's trade picture book A Circle Is Not a Valentine [Oxford University Press, 1990] offers a simple, funny introduction to four basic shapes: square, circle, triangle, and valentine heart. Share the book with preschoolers. Then, in a preschool math lesson plan, have them paint and label their own shapes to make a Valentine's Day book, practice sorting the four shapes, and explore the concept of symmetry. Finally, children apply what they have learned to use these shapes to make valentine cards in a fun preschool Valentine's Day craft activity.
How to Use the Book A Circle Is Not a Valentine with Preschoolers
Begin by inviting children to share any prior knowledge they have about shapes, Valentine's Day, and shapes associated with Valentine's Day. Then display and discuss the book's cover. Check to see if children can identify the shape on the painting. Have children look for clues (paintbrush, easel) to help them predict what Alphonse will be doing in this book.
Next, read the book, stopping at times to do the following:
- Point out the date February 14 on the title page and discuss its significance.
- After Alphonse declares that a Valentine is special and says, "I love you," have children share suggestions for what shape or picture can best tell someone you love them.
- Have children identify each shape after Alphonse paints it but before he names it correctly.
How to Teach Shapes by Making a Valentine's Day Shapes Book
Provide each child with four sheets of paper. Depending on children's skill levels and the available classroom supplies, children can make a shape (square, circle, triangle, valentine heart) on each sheet in a variety of ways. For example:
- Have children trace cut-out shapes and then color them in or paint them.
- Have children color in or paint stencil shapes.
- Provide children with stamps for each shape.
- Have children look at examples and paint or draw the shapes freehand.
Once children have a page for each kind of shape, help them write the name for each shape beneath or provide them with already-written labels to stick beneath each shape. Then staple the sheets between two pieces of construction paper and have children use art supplies to decorate the cover.
How to Sort Shapes
Prepare for the sort by cutting many copies of the four shapes (square, circle, triangle, valentine heart) out of construction paper. For an easy sort, cut out copies that vary only by shape, and are the same size and color. To make the sort more difficult for older children, cut out shapes of different sizes (small, medium, large) and colors (pink, red, white).
Give small groups or partners piles of the paper shape cut-outs, along with a blank sheet of paper. Have them sort the shapes into groups and then make a chart with headings for each group (children can draw a picture of each shape or shapes in the group that shows the attributes by which the shapes were sorted) and tally marks showing how many of each shape are in each group.
How to Use Shapes to Teach the Concept of Symmetry to Preschool Children
Without using the term symmetry, teachers can still introduce preschoolers to the concept of a shape being able to be folded into equal halves. Pass out one of each of the paper shapes to children. Demonstrate how to fold the heart equally in half. Challenge children to fold the square, circle, and triangle in half the same way (make sure that the paper triangle shape is equilateral!).
Have them use black crayons to draw a dotted line down the fold to identify the line of symmetry. Have older children experiment with folding the shapes and lead them into a discussion about how the heart only has one line of symmetry, while the square has two, the triangle has three, and the circle has too many to be counted (an infinite amount).
Preschool Valentine's Day Craft Activity
To conclude this preschool Valentine's Day lesson plan, have children use what they have learned about shapes to make valentine cards to tell someone "I love you!" They can color the paper shapes from the sort and glue them to other sheets of folded paper. They can draw these shapes or other shapes or stick down stickers shaped like squares, circles, triangles, and hearts. Once children are done, invite them to present their valentines to the class and explain why they used the shapes they did to say "I love you!"
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