Composing and decomposing shapes with manipulatives is a great hands-on activity to get students practicing multiple Kindergarten skills. Keep reading for some great ideas on composing 2-D shapes in your classroom!

Composing 2-D Shapes

One of my favorite activities to do with my kinders is to have them explore with different materials and work on composing 2-D shapes.  My students quickly became good at putting two squares together to make a rectangle and using two rectangles to make a square.  I wanted them to see that they can make use of multiple different shapes to make new shapes of all sizes and types.

Center Idea

I took masking tape and made giant 2-D shapes on the floor.  We had a rectangle, square, triangle, hexagon, and then I used a hula-hoop for the circle.  Each giant shape had its own type of manipulatives.  The students challenge was to use the tools that were there to create the shape they were working in.

We had our pattern blocks, which are the tools that we typically use when working with shapes, but I also wanted them to be composing 2-D shapes from a variety of manipulatives and materials.

This activity goes well with

Manipulative Ideas

Snap cubes

Pattern blocks

Tangram pieces

K’NEX

TinkerToys

Straws

Legos

Popsicle Sticks

Students worked in groups to build their shape.  If they made it one way, they would work to find another way.  After a little bit of time, the students rotate and go test out a new shape.

I love seeing their minds at work as they are working together to compose different 2-D shapes.