Printable guide · ages 3–5

Piko's Shape Workshop

Use one lesson, then pause. Let the child point or trace with a finger before using shape names. Size, colour and direction change so the child can notice a property that stays the same.

Materials: Large shape drawings on paper and a pencil. An adult can draw a cut line instead of giving scissors.

Open the lessons

What to notice

Notice whether the child follows a boundary, counts corners once, recognises a turned example and chooses pieces using edges rather than colour.

What stayed the same when the picture changed? Show it on the edge.

Lesson 1

Round all the way

Goal: Recognise a circle by its curved boundary without corners.

Draw a new circle among cornered shapes. Ask the child to show the uninterrupted curve rather than naming the shape alone.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: Follow the line. Where does your finger have to turn sharply?
A common mix-up: Colour, size or direction can distract from the boundary rule. Change one feature first and ask the child to point to what stayed.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Choose a piece, then touch its matching outline below. Fit both pieces to make the whole shape.

Lesson 2

Three sides, three corners

Goal: Identify a triangle using its three straight sides and three corners.

Draw a triangle pointing down. Ask which three edges make its boundary. A pointed top is not the defining feature.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: Can we count one side at a time?
A common mix-up: Colour, size or direction can distract from the boundary rule. Change one feature first and ask the child to point to what stayed.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Choose a piece, then touch its matching outline below. Fit both pieces to make the whole shape.

Lesson 3

Four equal sides

Goal: Recognise a square by four equal sides and four square corners.

Use squares with different colours and a rotated square. A diamond-looking orientation can still be a square; ask about side lengths and corners.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: Compare the four side lengths as well as the corners.
A common mix-up: Colour, size or direction can distract from the boundary rule. Change one feature first and ask the child to point to what stayed.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Choose a piece, then touch its matching outline below. Fit both pieces to make the whole shape.

Lesson 4

Long sides and short sides

Goal: Notice a long rectangle’s matching opposite sides and four square corners.

Keep the phrase long rectangle in this lesson. Do not tell the child that a square is not a rectangle; the inclusive relationship is stated correctly.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: Find the two long sides facing one another.
A common mix-up: A square is also a rectangle. The task deliberately says long rectangle to make one unambiguous group.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Make a group of long door panels. Choose using the sides, even when their directions differ.

Lesson 5

A new colour, the same shape

Goal: Use the boundary to recognise a shape after its colour changes.

Change only colour at first, keeping size and orientation stable. Later include a same-colour distractor with a different boundary.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: We are choosing by shape. What does the boundary tell us?
A common mix-up: Colour, size or direction can distract from the boundary rule. Change one feature first and ask the child to point to what stayed.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Build a group of square tiles in different colours. A colour match alone is not enough.

Lesson 6

Turn it and look again

Goal: Recognise a shape when its orientation changes.

Rotate the paper rather than stretching it. Rotation preserves the shape; stretching can change side lengths and introduces a different question.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: Imagine turning the paper back. Which property stayed?
A common mix-up: Colour, size or direction can distract from the boundary rule. Change one feature first and ask the child to point to what stayed.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Make a roof-shape group. Each chosen roof must keep three straight sides.

Lesson 7

Two pieces make a whole

Goal: Join two fitting pieces to form a complete shape without a gap or overlap.

Draw a cut through a large shape and ask the child to point to the two parts. On paper, let the child show where cut edges would meet; no scissors are needed.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: Which cut edges could meet without a gap?
A common mix-up: Colour, size or direction can distract from the boundary rule. Change one feature first and ask the child to point to what stayed.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Choose a piece, then touch its matching outline below. Fit both pieces to make the whole shape.

Lesson 8

Choose a shape rule

Goal: Group examples using one stated boundary property and ignore irrelevant colour or direction.

Ask the child to state or show the grouping rule before moving pictures. Change one rule at a time and allow the same picture to belong in a different group under a new rule.

Starting point: Revisit the previous boundary or matching idea using one large drawing; naming is optional.
A helpful phrase: Tell or show the rule before choosing.
A common mix-up: Colour, size or direction can distract from the boundary rule. Change one feature first and ask the child to point to what stayed.
Notice the transfer: Use a fresh paper drawing in a new colour or direction. Observe the child showing an edge, corner or matching cut rather than repeating the answer.

Show: Make a final group with a longer pair and a shorter pair of opposite sides. Ignore colour and direction.

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