Document
Introduction
Point out to your child that he or she can follow the outline of a figure by running a finger around the edges. Explain that shape is what we call the outline of a form. Circles, squares, and triangles are very common shapes. Anything that has a form, or a body, also has a shape. We can see shapes in everything around us.
Artists use shapes to create different forms. This artist made a sculpture that uses two different kinds of shapes.
Questions
What shapes are in this sculpture?
Which shape did the artist use twice?
Is the shape on the bottom a common shape, or is it different? Why?
Observations
Note that by putting two circles together, the artist created eyes. Encourage your child to create recognizable objects by combining different shapes.
Activity
Cut basic shapes out of colored paper, such as circles, ovals, rectangles, squares, stars, and triangles. Ask your child to select shapes, identify them, and glue them onto a piece of paper. Encourage him or her to make something recognizable by placing the shapes together.
Vocabulary
Artist - someone who makes things, such as paintings and sculptures
Form - the shape of something, as opposed to its surface
Outline - a line drawn around the outside edge of something
Sculpture - a work of art that has height, width, and depth
Shape - an outline of a body, like a circle or square