SHAPE: Circle 

From Stormie:

Although I'm posting ideas below as often as I can, my very favorite basic shape activities have been reserved for my "SHAPES" booklet.  I create and sell booklets and other teaching aids to help defer the costs of keeping my website on the internet.  You can find my booklets and games here in "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers" then keep hitting your back button to return to this page.  Financial donations are also greatly appreciated as my website is now a part-time career for me.

IT'S A CIRCLE
(origin unknown)
 (Tune: Frere Jacques) Here is a circle, here is a circle, How can you tell, how can you tell? It goes round and round, no end can be found, It's a circle, it's a circle.

(Everyone holds up a circle, tracing the shape with your fingers while singing.)

Sandpaper Circles (gross motor): Buy sandpaper and cut circles from it that are large enough for children to hold on to and use (don't get one that's too abrasive).  Provide a chunk of wood for children to "sand down" by moving their sandpaper circles in a circular motion.  Children can even repeat a little chant while working: "Round, round, and round we go; We can move fast or we can move slow."  Get the idea?  Round = Circle shape

Creative Movement: Body Circles: Play soft music to encourage gentle flexible body movements after asking the question, "How many ways can you make circle shapes with your body?"

Reinforcement Fun: Are you familiar with those little round sticker reinforcements?  (They're used for putting over the holes of your papers in a ringed notebook.)  Give a strip of them to each child.  They can peel them off and stick them on paper, then draw their own pictures around them.  I remember a child who, after sticking his on paper, then took a pencil and just drew a maze of lines in and around each one.

Frisbees (gross motor): Children throw "Frisbees" or paper plates back and forth to one another.

Music: Don't forget "Greg and Steve's" shape song as an option.

Snack: Rounds: Carrot rounds or banana slices

My husband and very best friend, Richard, helped me come up with this idea for incorporating science into my "Circles" unit:
Magnetic Circles: To give even more exposure to the concept of "circle," you can put circular-shaped magnets in a small basket along with a variety of round flat objects, some which will attract magnets and some that won't (metal washers, coins, metal and plastic bottle caps, round key rings, metal lids, etc).  Allow the children to experiment by discovering which items will cling to the magnets.  (By the way, you can purchase small round magnets at hardware stores.)

Tubes: Add lots of different types of cardboard tubes to your Block Center during your "Circles" unit.  They make great tunnels for toy cars, and the children get to visually experience the "circular" passageways. 

Cindy Circle (creativity within the limits of a theme): Give each child one large construction paper circle.  Also provide collage materials for creating facial features, arms, legs, hats, etc for a take-home "Cindy Circle."
Classroom Decor: Shape People: The cutest and cheapest "shape" decor I ever had in my classroom at the beginning of the year was when I created my own "shape people" and posted them on the wall.  I used the same materials as mentioned above except the shapes were larger and cut from posterboard.  I gave all of them accordian folded legs and arms.  They were cute, but still, the children's artwork is always best!

Circle Picture: After discussing circles, give each child a large and/or small circle (or circles) to glue on paper.  Also provide crayons.  Instruct them to make a picture of circles using the paper circles and crayons.  Observe and encourage as they draw and collage.  You might ask, "Can you think of something made of circles?"  "Can circles be different colors?" "Can they be different sizes?"  Can you count your circles?  Have them tell you about their completed pictures, then print their exact words on their papers.

Stormie's Games: By the way, would you like a related learning game for your classroom?  I offer "Circles and Squares" pattering cards and the "Crazy Shapes" game" in the "Teaching Aids" section of "Stormie's Stuff for Teachers.      

Please share your ideas for the shape of "circle" by e-mailing me at stormie@preschoolbystormie.com              

From Aimee, kindergarten teacher in West Haven, Connecticut:
Here's an alternative to Stormie's idea above (Circle Pictures): Before having the children draw pictures of things that are circular (or round), we read the book A Circle Is Round, by Donald Crews.  The children then use circle tracers to make circles of various sizes on their papers, and then they add their own details.  We then walk around and write their "circle sentences" on their papers (example: "Cailyn's face is round.").  We later hang all the papers up on the bulletin board.  It is very cute!

From Becky, preschool teacher in Nichols, New York:
Spinning Circles: I have 2 old Fisher Price children's record players.  On Circle Day, I put a paper plate on where the record goes.  I turn it on, and the children use markers as it is spinning to make a record!!

From Kathy Norwood, Alamogordo, New Mexico:
Circle Shapes: I like to use real objects and hands-on activities.  To teach the "circle" shape, I collect a variety of them from my home: jar, bowl, plate, lid, juice lid, paper towel roll, candle, votive cup, etc.  These provide many different sizes of circles.  I hide them in a bag behind my back then proceed to give hints as the children try to guess what I have.  Each child gets an object to hold as we discuss "circles."  We then go back to the table where there are paper and crayons.  I help them trace around the objects on their papers, then they glue construction paper circles onto their papers. 
Pre-Math Extension: For an individual center activity, I trace the objects onto poster board.  The children then match their object to its tracing.

From Rita W. Neher:
3-D Circle Collages: Stormie, I collect all sizes of three-dimensional circle shape objects all year long (bottle tops, stickers, anything that's a circle shape).  During our "Circle" unit, I give each child a large posterboard circle and let them do collages of all the items I've collected.  Provide crayons or markers and you'll see lots of interesting collages springing forth.  (I do this with the other shapes too.)

From Sheryl C. in Portland, Oregon:
Pre-Math: Matching Shapes: I am using themes from you, Stormie, so we focus on a certain shape and number(s) each month.  I found small stickers at our local teacher's store that have all the shapes in different colors.  They are small enough to fit on the end of a craft stick or clothespin.  For September, since our shape will be the "circle" and our colors "red, yellow, and blue," I stuck 4 red circles to 4 craft sticks, 4 yellow circles to 4 craft sticks, and 4 blue circles to 4 craft sticks (you can use more or less -- I start the year off will a smaller amount and increase as the year goes on).  I then got 3 juice cans, covered them with white paper (white contact paper would also work), and then put a yellow circle on the front of one can, a red circle on another, and a blue on another.  The children enjoy sorting the craft sticks into the appropriate cans, matching the color on the sticks to the color on the cans.  As the months go by and we learn more shapes, I put out more cans and sticks (different color squares and triangles, etc, in addition to the circles) so it gets increasingly more challenging as the year goes on.
Variation: Snap-clothespins can work similarly.  Color code plastic cups or paper plates then have children clip the appropriate clothespin to the them (clothespins with circles on them would be clipped to the cup or plate with a circle on it).
Note from Stormie: And what wonderful fine motor practice clothespins provide.

From Lisa Cox, Horace Mann Montessori School -- Integrated Preschool:
Back Circles: I hang a picture of a circle on the backs of half the children in my class and have the other half of the class stand behind the ones with the circles.  (I group the children with circles on their backs so that they are standing in a circle.  The ones without circles on their backs make up another group circle around them.)  The outside circle of children then move around the inside circle of children tracing the circle on their friends' backs while saying "This is a circle."

From Patti Anderson:
When looking for things that are round with the children, don't forget easy-to-miss things like doorknobs and smiley faces.
Sorting: When focusing on circles, I like to present three different sizes of circles and have children match them (all the small ones together, all the medium sized ones together, and all the large ones together).

From Susie Lampont, Missouri:
Song: Stormie, a teaching friend gave me a "shapes" song that I wanted to pass on to you in return for all those times you've helped me.  The tune is to "London Bridges."  Each verse is about a different shape so you might want to divide the song accordingly and place them in the appropriate shape sections of your website:
I'm as round as round can be, round can be, round can be
I'm as round as round can be, I'm a circle.
**Here's another song sent from Susie that allows you to use any shape:
Do You Know the Shape?
(Tune: Muffin Man)
Do you know what shape this is, what shape this is, what shape this is?
Do you know what shape this is, I'm holding in my hand?
Allow anyone to call out the name of the shape, or you can have them raise their hands if they know and then call on one of those children.  If you have time and children don't tire of the activity, you could repeat the song using the child's name (Nancy knows what shape this is, what shape this is, what shape this is, Nancy knows...................)
 
From Stephanie Joseph, Marietta, Georgia:
Spin Art/Science: Stormie, we cut paper into a circle that fits into the bottom of an inexpensive salad spinner that I bought.  We put paint into squeeze bottles and the children drizzle paint onto the paper, put the lid on and spin away!  The colors make a neat design.  It kinda' goes along with science too -- cause and effect, motion, etc.

From Diane:
Stormie, at the end of our "circles" unit, we serve big round donuts for snack to celebrate!

From April, in Idaho:
Lids Play: I know that everyone saves round metal juice lids for craft projects but I have found that children just love to play with them.  So, during "Circle" week, I put out an old hand bag full of them.

From Leanne Grillot, Teacher of the Visually Impaired for the Monterey County Office of Education:
We give everyone something round to hold, feel and talk about (plastic apple, jingle bell, rubber ball, puff ball, etc).

From Dee Cardenas, Starbright Preschool, Austin, Texas:
Reinforcing Concept of Round: I found a sturdy packing tube about 4' long.  The children enjoy tipping it up on one end and rolling tennis balls (also round) down through the "round" opening so that they shoot out the other end.

From Ms. "C":
Bubble Wrap Circle Art: For this project, you will need bubble wrap (that plastic you wrap things in for protection when sending them in the mail), colors of liquid tempera paint, white paper and foam brushes.  Tape the bubble wrap onto a table that has been covered with newspaper.  Have a child paint the bubble wrap using the brushes or his/her hands.  Next, lay the child's white paper on top of the bubble wrap and pat it down with your hands.  After the entire paper has been patted down, lift the paper to see a masterpiece!

From Sharon Winter, Our Lady of Hope/St. Luke Pre-Kindergarten, Baltimore, Maryland:
Circle Snack: I have my preschoolers wash their hands, then I give them each a round refrigerator biscuit and a small very clean craft stick.  I instruct them to cut a small hole from the center of their biscuits using the craft stick.  The biscuit should then look something like a donut.  The children then brush their biscuits with melted butter and sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on top.  We bake them according to the package directions.  When the biscuits are done, we let them cool before eating and enjoying our yummy snack.

Here's a bunch of "Circle Shape" ideas from Michelle:
Snacks:
1. Circle Buffet: For the conclusion of our "Circle" unit, I send notes home to parents requesting that each child bring a "circle" snack to share with the class.  At snack time, the snack helpers of the day assist by putting all the circle snacks on a table where we can enjoy our "circle buffet."  The children are allowed to move down the buffet line, sampling each of the snacks made available.  You will be amazed at how many different circle snacks parents come up with!
2. Peanut Butter Circles: Combine 1/2 cup of peanut butter with 3 1/2 tbsp. of dry powdered milk.  Add a bit of honey. Roll into balls and then flatten slightly to form a small circle.  Store in the refrigerator until the treats aren't so soft.  Serve with plenty of milk, teachers!
Gross Motor:
1. Jump Into the Circle: Place several hula hoops around in a circle in an open area of the classroom.  Play active music (I prefer selections by Greg and Steve), and invite a few students at a time to jump into a "circle" (hoop) as they move about, but they must not get into a circle that's occupied by someone else.  Not only does this reinforce the shape of a circle, it gets bodies moving, and also teaches "cooperation in a group" because the children must be mindful not to jump into a hoop containing another body!
2. "Round" Balls: To focus on "roundness," bring out the parachute and alternate between adding small, medium, and large size playground balls to the parachute as you talk about the "round" balls.  Ask the children to move in a circle too while holding the parachute.
Pre-Math: Circles on Circles: Practice one-to-one correspondence using circles: Cut out several construction paper colors of circles.  Ask children to place one Bingo chip (or other small circular manipulative) into each circle.  If the children are developmentally ready, ask them to place the matching colored manipulative in its corresponding colored circle.  Those kids will be seeing circles for sure!!
Art Center: Circle Collages: When I have the children do "circle" collages, I give them large circles to glue their collage items on.  Items for gluing include: Sponges cut into circle shapes, round stickers (like those used for garage sale pricing -- usually neon colored found at most Walmarts or office supply stores), and circle-shaped cereals (Cheerios, Captain Crunch's Chocolate Donuts).  They can also paint with circles on their collages by using: Bingo dobbers filled with tempera paint, or by dipping circular shaped "junk" into paints (like bottle caps, cookie cutters, etc.).  When the children have completed the collages and they have dried, I put them all into a "class booklet" that is then left in the Art Center.  The children enjoy looking at their work throughout the rest of the school year.
Transitional Activity: Fill the Circle: While some chidren are cleaning up learning center activities, I allow the others (who have already cleaned up) to come to the floor where I have taped a huge circle drawn on butcher paper.  I provide crayons, markers, and colored pencils, and allow the children to color the circle as a group until everyone has joined the group.  When the circle fills, I tape it outside the classroom door and add individual photos of the children participating in different circle activities throughout the month.
Song: "A Circle Shape" (Tune: Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah)
A circle is the shape of a pancake
A circle is the shape of a bubble, too
A circle is the shape of a bouncing ball
I like circles, don't you?
Fingerplay: "Draw A Circle"
Draw a circle, draw a circle (move arms around in a circle)
Make it very round (make a big circle with both hands)
Draw a circle, draw a circle (move arms around in a circle)
No corners can be found (shake head no, wag finger)
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Suggested Books:

From Stormie:
Circles (What Shape Is It?), by Mary Elizabeth Salzmann: Photos of everyday objects that are round (CD, magnifying glass, etc).
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