Inside Outside Wooden Shapes - Pk14

14 smooth and tactile birch plywood discs, each cut out with a different shape inside to make a captivating set of shape sorting puzzles. The discs contain 7 geometric or mathematical shapes (circle, oval, semicircle, triangle, square, rectangle and hexagon) and 7 organic or environmental shapes (mushroom, star, keyhole, crown, cross, flower and heart). At 12mm thick, the shapes and discs are beautifully chunky and portable, ideal for small hands to hold and manipulate. 

This is a versatile and cross-curricular resource to support a range of learning skills: shape matching, pairing and sorting, recognising 2D shapes and their characteristics, learning about symmetry and regular shapes, looking at shape attributes, discussing the difference between mathematical and representational forms. 

The shapes are great for playing pairing and matching games, as puzzle pieces, and for encouraging the use of descriptive language. The shapes and discs can all be used for drawing round or tracing, and to identify and find similar shapes in the classroom environment or outdoors. They can be stacked and balanced to engage motor skills and hand-eye coordination, or as accessories in imaginative play. 

Set includes a cotton drawstring storage bag and activity guide in 8 languages with details of 6 games to play. 

Case Study - Early Years Setting, Kent, UK: These are well liked by children and teachers as they are tactile and smooth. The children enjoyed using them as mini jigsaws. The teachers asked the children about the different shapes and linking their discussions to maths concepts. They were also comparing them and spotting similarities and differences. They had collaborative talk about why some shapes did not fit. This led to using directional vocabulary e.g., turn it clockwise, anti-clockwise, right, left. Other vocabulary included positional language, such as inside, outside, next to, behind, in front of, around. They also used them for counting and sharing.

• Maths - shape & space

• Physical Development - motor skills, hand-eye coordination

• Expressive Arts & Design - imaginative play

• Communication & Language - descriptive language

• Personal Development - collaborative play