The Shape of Things

In this activity, children search for the shapes and colors that define both our natural and built environments.

Objectives

Provide opportunities and materials for children to:

• Observe shapes in natural and built environments.
• Look at nature in new ways by using tools that they construct themselves.
• Express feelings about shapes in nature through writing, music, movement, and art.
• Incorporate the knowledge they gain into their everyday world.
• Play outside in a natural setting.

This is one of 12 activities that can be found in PLT’s Trees & Me activity guide for exploring nature with young children. For the complete activity and more like it, purchase Trees & Me at Shop.PLT.org and/or attend a professional development training in your state.

K-2 Early Learning Standards: NGSS, Common Core, and C3 Framework

To help educators link instruction to academic requirements, each Trees & Me activity includes an Early Learning Standards graphic, which lists practices and concepts addressed in the activity for four subject areas: Science, English Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies.  

The Early Learning Standards Connections in this guide are based on the following national standards: 

• Science, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
• English Language Arts, Common Core State Standards-ELA
• Math, Common Core State Standards-Mathematics
• Social Studies, C3 Framework for Social Studies

Correlations to NAEYC Accreditation Standards

Along with academic correlations, Trees & Me activities align with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) 10 standards system for early childhood programs. 

Based on research on the development and education of young children, the standards define what NAEYC believes all early childhood programs should provide. This document identifies correlations between Trees & Me activities and NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items. 

Correlations to the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework

PLT identifies correlations between Trees & Me activities and Head Start’s Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF), which outlines what early learners should be able to do in each of five essential learning domains. 

Correlations identify which Trees & Me activities provide learners with opportunities to develop skills and knowledge in ELOF’s five domains.

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