Hands-on Geometry
Teaching and practicing 2D shapes can be such a fun, engaging unit with the help of everyone’s favorite math manipulative…magnet tiles!
Identifying 2D shapes is a fundamental math skill in elementary math curriculums. We know that students learn best through engaging, hands-on activities- so whether you are in a classroom or with your child at home, this hands-on geometry practice with magnet tiles is for you!
Using Magnet Tiles
Magnet tiles are a favorite in my house and make a great STEAM activity all on their own. Many sets include basic 2D shapes such as triangles, rectangles, and squares. They are amazing for children to showcase their creativity and working fine motor skills.
Not only are they great for building on the floor, because they are magnetic they are amazing for working on a vertical surface like an easel, filing cabinet refrigerator, or even garage door! Building this way builds gross motor and fine motor skills – a definite win for little bodies!
Using students love and familiarity with magnet tiles will allow you to teach students to identify and compose 2D shapes without even realize they’re doing math!
Identifying Shapes and Attributes
While students are building with magnet tiles, asking questions can help students pay attention to the types of shapes they are using. Encourage critical thinking by asking:
- Can you pass me a square?
- Can you find a shape that is the same as this one?
- How many triangles did you use?
- How many sides does this shape have?
- Did you use more squares or triangles?
- How many vertices can you count?
- Can you trace the edges on this shape?
- Is this shape still a triangle if I turn it this way?
Composing 2D Shapes with Magnets
Using smaller shapes to build larger shapes is an important skill for building spatial awareness. It can be practived by using any shape manipulative like pattern blocks, but magnet tiles make an amazing tool for composing shapes. Give students a challenge to see if they can build a shape using only the shapes you give them. They’ll practice identifying shapes as well as manipulating them to compose other shapes. So many amazing math skills working.
Ask students:
- Can you use 2 squares to build a rectangle?
- What shape can you build with these 2 triangles?
- What can you use to build a square?
- How can we use these triangles to make a hexagon?
Magnet Tile task Cards
If you do soft start, morning bins, or have a STEAM bin in your classroom – or if you have a bin of magnet tiles in your playroom – adding task cards can encourage intentional play while building these important math skills. Task cards are so easy to print, laminate, and hang on a binder ring for students to access. They can provide an invitation to build while encouraging hands-on practice with identifying and composing 2D shapes.
looking for some task cards to use?
“My students love playing with Magna tiles and thought it was fun to be able to create different shapes using the visuals on the cards. This is going to connect great with our unit on shapes.” -Jessica H.
“Loved the option to differentiate using the same materials. Great resource for centers and to extend the ones that can do more.” –Vaishali S.
“I added these cards with my mini tiles busy box. Students were engaged right away. A nice low prep way to extend play and learning.” –Christina H.