Learning shapes improves the communication skills of children. When introducing shapes to kids, begin with the world around you. They can describe objects such as “triangular roof” or “rectangular table”. Moreover, it will help children transition from stick figure drawings into more detailed drawings using shapes. Besides, letters contain a lot of different shapes – circles, lines, parts of triangles and curves. Therefore, drawing skills developed in drawing shapes provide children a foundation for learning to write letters. So, why don’t we do “shapes yoga” then so that we can both learn and have fun? Before starting kids yoga with shapes, you may sing The Shape Song 1 and The Shape Song 2 of Super Simple Songs in order to warm up.
Shapes Yoga
Arrow (Surfer): Standing with your feet wide, bend your front knee and spread your arms out wide.
Circle (Child Pose): We kneel down and tuck ourselves up into a little tiny ball.
Crescent (Moon): We stand up tall, feet together and reach our arms up above us, hands together too. Then we lift and lean over to one side, still pointing upwards as much as possible, looking like the moon.
Diamond (Book): Sitting tall, feet flat, knees bent, place hands on knees and guide the knees open, bringing the soles of your feet into touch – like you are opening a book.
Heart (Tree – hands in heart shape): Standing tall, place the heel of your foot on top of the other. Bring your hands together at your heart and grow your branches up above your head in heart shape.
Line (Extended Mountain): Standing tall and perfectly still, eyes can be open or closed, breathing steady. We are immovable like mountains.
Oval (Bowl): We lie on our tummies and flick our feet up towards our bottoms. We reach around with one arm and take hold of our ankle, getting a good grip. Then reach round with the other hand and take the other ankle. We kick our legs into our hands, and feel our chest and heart lift up.
Rectangle (Bridge): Sitting on our bottoms, with our knees bent, feet flat and hands behind us – fingers pointing towards your bottom. Press into your feet and lift your hips up to the sky making a bridge.
Spiral (Swan): Begin on all-fours. Bend your lower legs, point your toes to the sky and glide your body forward. Lift your chest and lengthen your neck. Drop your shoulders and keep your arms strong.
Square (Table Top Pose): Come to hands and knees. Hands shoulder-width apart with wrists, elbows and shoulders in one line. Bring hips over knees, with knees hip-width apart. Point toes straight back.
Star (Star): Standing tall with your legs wide and arms outstretched. You are a big, bright and very sparkly star.
Triangle (Downward Facing Dog): We press our feet and hands into the floor as we lift our bottoms to the sky.
Relaxation:
Please lie down comfortably. You can close your eyes if you want. Dream about a big and bright star. Dream that you see this star every night when you lie in your bed and close your eyes. This star is your best friend at nights. It listens to you eagerly every night. It protects you and helps you fall asleep very easily. Imagine that it has sparkling magic powder and pours it on you every night. Some days it pours some happiness on you while some other days some love or some gratitude… whatever you wish best for yourself. Now imagine that your big and bright star is just shining up above you with its sparkly magic powder and you are shining as bright as it does. Remember that whenever you need some magic powders on you, you may close your eyes and call your sparkly friend. Then you will be filled with bright, warm, white light.
Affirmation: I am open to receive all good things.
When you are ready move your fingers and toes, hug your knees into your chest. Roll over onto your side. We press ourselves up to sit, crossing our legs. We bring our hands together at our heart. Thank you for doing yoga with me today. Namaste!
Game:
Hopscotch Game with Shapes:
Hopscotch is a backyard game enjoyed by children all over the world. It is an old traditional game that still brings loads of fun and laughter. You may use chalk to draw a hopscotch pattern on the ground or use masking tape on the floor. You may also get an indoor hopscotch mat and label each square with a shape (triangle, square, star, etc.). You can tape a shape card into each square.
First Version:
Throw a small stone into the first square. Hop on one foot into the first empty square, and then every subsequent empty square. Be sure to skip the one your marker is on. At the pairs (4-5 and 7-8) jump with both feet. At 10, hop with both feet, turn around, and head back towards the start. When you reached the marked square again, pick up the marker and do the shape yoga pose on the marked square. Then complete the course. Pass the marker to the next player. On your next turn, throw the marker to the next number.
Second Version:
This time, place a shape card next to each number for both sides as you will do different shape poses when turning around. You do not need a small stone or any other marker. Hop on the first square and do the yoga pose on the shape card (on the right). At 10, turn around and head back towards the start by doing the other yoga poses on the left.
Breathing Activity:
Geometric Breathing: Prepare two different shapes of square and circle. You can use these geometric papers just like hobermen sphere. Take the circle one, for instance, by following the arrows, inhale and exhale.
If you like the lesson plan, you can download it from here.