- Definition
A shape is the outline of an object, like a circle or a square. It's what you see when you look at something, and it has two main measurements: how long it is and how wide it is.
When your child draws a line that starts and ends at the same point, they have created a shape.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A shape is like the outline a cookie cutter makes in the dough.
Ask your child: What shapes can you find in this room?
Common mix-up: Kids often think shapes are just squares and circles. A shape is any closed outline, including the wiggly shape of a puddle or a leaf.
Examples
- The circle of a plate or the square of a window.
- The blob-like shape of a cloud or a puddle on the ground.
- Cutting a heart shape out of a piece of paper.
shape is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+81 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
