Open-Closed Shape Sort

I love math.  To be honest though, when I was a student, I HATED math.  But as a teacher, I love it!  Maybe it’s because I get to teach it in a way that would have made so much more sense to me as a student.  Maybe it’s because kindergarten math is so much more fun than algebra.  But either way, it is probably my second favorite thing to teach (right behind science).

Shapes are a big deal in the primary grades, and one of the trickiest things for students is the concept open and closed.  I don’t know why, but it’s like their brains fill in the holes and they don’t recognize the difference.  Enter my open-closed shape sort.

This is a cut and paste activity, so it sneaks that fine motor practice in as well.  Are you noticing a theme here?  😉  I would definitely not use the open-closed shape sort as an introduction to this concept.  This is intended for practice after several days on this concept.

The shapes are either complete, closed shapes or open figures that have holes included.  Students will have to really look close to decide which category to put their shapes in.  The pieces can be glued either on construction paper or in a math journal.

There are many options for the open-closed shape sort, depending on grade level.  In kindergarten, I typically do an activity like this in a small group setting.  I also only give them the scissors at first.  They don’t get a glue stick until they have all their pieces laid out in the correct spots.  This allows for discussion as we sort and lowers the frustration levels because they’re not worried about it being stuck on the wrong side.  In first grade, depending on how deep into the concept you are, this could be a center activity with or without a teacher or even a simple assessment.  You could even use the open-closed shape sort in the beginning of second grade as a completely independent activity to assess retention of the concept or introduce a geometry unit.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Open-Closed-Shape-Sort-761400