—12 minFamily timeFree play
Flat or Solid Shape Hunt
A quick home shape hunt where your child sorts everyday items into flat (2D) and solid (3D) and practises mathematical names plus simple describing words like sides and corners.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 5-7 everyday objects with clear shapes (e.g., plate/lid, book, small box, ball, can/toilet roll)
- 2 pieces of paper and a pen (to label FLAT and SOLID)
Nice to have
- a few building blocks or shape toys
- a picture book with shapes
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneGroups category membersMind· 2y–3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneSorts Objects by AttributeMind· 2.3y–3.2y· core
- MilestoneDescribes object propertiesMind· 2.5y–3y· core
- MilestoneReceptive opposite understandingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneAnswers simple open questionsMind· 2.3y–3.3y· stretch· Step 1
What it practices
- Beginning to use mathematical names for ‘solid’ 3D shapes and ‘flat’ 2D shapes, and mathematical terms to describe shapes.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Selects a particular named shape.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses shapes appropriately for tasks.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE) — construct-derived activity authored from enriched DM2012 construct