Date: January 7, 1999

Grade Level(s): Kindergarten, 1

Subject(s):

• Interdisciplinary
• Arts/Music
• Language Arts
• Mathematics

Duration: Introduce one shape a day. Time for each lesson depends on maturity level of the class. Allow about 20 minutes for the exploration time, 15 minutes for labeling time, 15-25 minutes for rhythm patterns.

Description: Based on Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory, teachers need to use a variety of teaching strategies to reach all students. This activity includes language, math, movement, music, critical thinking, group and individual participation. Students will identify six basic geometrical shapes using musical instruments in a "feely bag". They will use descriptive language: hard, round, cold, smooth,ect. When the instrument is guessed, students will identify that geometric shape in the classroom. An extension of this activity will be for students to "write" rhythm patterns using geometric shapes.

Goals:

• To introduce 6 basic shapes: circle, square, rectangle, diamond, triangle, oval.
• To increase words used to describe items.
• To reinforce shapes by naming them and using them in patterns.

Objectives:

• Students will increase use of descriptive language.
• Students will identify 6 basic shapes: circle, triangle, square, rectangle, diamond, oval.
• Students will use shapes to write/play a rythmic pattern.
• Students will identify/label shapes in the classroom.

Materials: "Feely " bag (or mystery box), rhythm instruments: triangle, wooden sand blocks, maracas, jingle bell ring, wooden blocks, cymbals paper cut-outs of shapes for labeling, tape, sentence strips, paper cut-out shapes for making pattern strips, several examples of rhythm patterns on sentence strips.

Procedure: Each day, place a new rhythm instrument in the "feely" bag. I began with the triangle because many students were familiar with it and it was easy to describe. Have the students take turns reaching in the bag and telling what it feels like without telling what they think it is. Praise very descriptive words like "metal-like" or "cold". When all have had a turn, ask students to guess what is in the bag. Show the instrument (teach about what an instrument is, too). Name it. Have students look for that shape in classroom. Label the shapes. Allow time for the students to play the instruments or have enought on hand for several students to have a turn. As you add instruments/shapes each day, review the previous shapes. After 2 or 3 days,give students a chance to play shape/rhythm patterns. EX. triangle, triangle, circle, circle, square, square. This would be played by the triangle, cymbals, wood blocks. Add to the rhythm strips as you add shapes. The musical instruments for each shape are: triangle-triangle, wooden blocks-square, sandpaper blocks-rectangle, cymbals-circle, maracas-oval, jingle bell rings-diamond (this was a tough one, but word association works: bell-ring-diamond!!!)