Shape Hunt at the Playground

  To be honest, when we go to the park, I'm usually thinking that maybe I'll get a few minutes (or more!) to sit in the shade while Kay runs around, works off some of her energy, and befriends every child she meets. I'm not usually thinking about learning at that point. 

  But we went on a shape hunt one day when no one else was there to play with. And it was so simple! 

 For added appeal, I let Kay take some pictures of the shapes we found (everything is more exciting when you're a preschooler and have a camera in your hand!). I was pretty impressed at some of the ones she came up with too. As an added bonus: I could easily have participated in this hunt from the park bench if I wanted...

  We found an oval in her bike helmet, and the rock wall turned out to be a trapezoid. (Blow me down when she knew that word! It triggered a latent memory from 8th grade geometry, but otherwise I still don't know where she learned it.) (Fun fact: Did you know it's called a trapezoid in the United States and Canada but a trapezium in English outside North America? Impress your friends with that one!)

  "Ooh, and the bench is a rectangle!" She was really into it by then! 

So how else can you learn at the playground? 

Buggy and Buddy found lots of shapes at their playground - and even made it into a book! (Also check out the free printable scavenger hunt!)

Glittering Muffins used magnetic numbers to do a playground number search. 

KC Edventures found various letters at their playground - such a fun scavenger hunt!

Mapping out the playground is a great introduction to geography...and a treasure hunt would add to the fun, like this one from Kid World Citizen!

  Welcome to the Hands-on Play Party! Check out what my co-hosts have been up to this week and follow along on Pinterest as well!  Keep on playing! 

                       Fall Science Sensory Activities | Little Bins For Little Hands

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