Geometry Shape - Recognise and name 2D shapes 3 - Starter activity

In a lively and interactive geometry lesson tailored for Year 1 pupils, the objective is to recognise and name common 2D shapes as part of the national curriculum standards. The lesson begins with a 'Shape detective' starter activity that encourages children to move around and engage with their learning environment. To facilitate this activity, only basic equipment is required, such as paper and pencils, with magnifying glasses being an optional addition to enhance the investigative experience.

The class is divided into teams, or 'detective agencies', and each is assigned a specific 2D shape that they have been learning about. The mission for each team is to search for and find as many instances of their given shape as possible throughout the school. They are tasked with noting down the object and the location where they found the shape on their paper. For a variation of the activity, every child can be provided with a list of shapes to search for, rather than focusing on just one. The aim is to find and accurately record the shapes, with the team that identifies the most correct examples being declared the winner. This hands-on approach not only makes learning about shapes fun but also helps to reinforce shape recognition skills in a practical setting.