Nursery – Math: Learning shapes
Nursery students learned about shapes through fun and engaging games designed to support meaningful learning. To begin the activity, teachers reviewed students’ prior knowledge of shapes and vegetables by recalling their previous experience of cooking vegetable soup. Students were encouraged to recognise and mention the colours and shapes of vegetables they had seen before (for example, identifying that a sliced carrot is circle). Next, students were asked to sort and place the vegetables onto the correct plate or tray based on the shape mentioned by the teacher. To make the activity more enjoyable and interactive, students also followed a pathway game to reach the shape called out by the teacher, which helped combine movement with learning.
This activity was purposefully designed to support various areas of students’ development. Through sorting and grouping vegetables by shape, students practiced early data-handling skills and developed logical thinking. The game format also supported their concentration, listening skills, and ability to follow instructions. In the long term, these experiences help build a strong foundation for mathematical understanding, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. Furthermore, the use of real-life contexts, such as vegetables and cooking, supports meaningful learning and helps students connect classroom concepts with everyday life, which will benefit their overall cognitive and academic development in the future.
