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Popsicle Stick Shape Mats (Free Printable for Kids)

There are so many fun ways to help toddlers and preschoolers learn shape identification. Use craft sticks or other everyday items and these Popsicle Stick Shape Mats to create a fun and easy play idea.

These popsicle stick mats are a free printable that you can download and print today. They are perfect if you are doing a shapes theme with your little learners. You can also use them in a variety of different ways, which is perfect if you are doing this activity with kids who are on different levels (like siblings).

If you want to make your Shapes themed lessons a breeze, then check out the Shapes Activity Pack. It’s filled with math and literacy centers, fine motor activities and arts and crafts templates. All of which are aligned with preschool learning standards. Check it out today.

Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase.

More Activities to Teach Kids about Shapes

Toddlers and preschoolers will have so much fun learning about the different shapes with some of these other fun activities. These shape play ideas are a great addition to your math centers or shape theme lesson plans.

  1. Shape Sorting sensory bin
  2. Building 2D and 3D Shapes – STEM for Kids
  3. Giant Shape Art for Kids
  4. Paper Plate Shapes
  5. Easy Matching Shape Activity for Toddlers

For more ideas, take a look at these 25 Shape Activities for Kids.

Materials Needed

  1. The popsicle stick shape mats pdf file
  2. A printer and paper
  3. Colored craft sticks
  4. Dry erase pockets

When making printable activities for your kids, you want to find a way to keep them sturdy and reusable. Especially if you are an early years educator who will use the same resources year after year.

I just love using dry erase pockets for this purpose since they make the activities sturdy and cleanable. But also have the added benefit of cutting down on plastic waste. I don’t know about you, but I always feel guilty laminating everything that I want to keep.

With dry erase pockets, I can switch out the activities or worksheets whenever I want. And if an activity gets damaged, then no fuss, I can remove it and recycle it like normal. It’s such an easy way to keep your classroom a little greener.

How to Make the Popsicle Stick Shape Mats

1. Download and print the pdf file.

Fill in the form at the bottom on the page to get your copy of the craft stick shape mats. Once you’ve entered your email address, a copy will be sent directly to your email.

2. Place your mats in a dry erase pocket or laminate them.

3. Gather your materials and enjoy playing

Different Ways to Play

Playing with the shape mats can be done in a variety of different ways, depending on what materials you want to use or what skills you want to focus on developing.

Popsicle Sticks

Grab some popsicle sticks, and place them over the lines of the different shapes.

You can also match the colors of the popsicle sticks to the colors on the mats.

Buttons

Line the buttons or other small items, along the lines of your shapes.

Using small items like buttons is a great way to help your kids count to higher numbers, such as 10 or 20.

Playdough

Roll the playdough into snakes or balls, and line these up along the lines of the shape.

If you are using playdough with this fun activity, then I recommend using some sort of page protector for your mats. A plastic sleeve, or laminating the mats will stop the playdough from sticking to the paper. They also make it easy to wipe down the mats after the kids are finished playing.

Dry Erase Marker

Finally, you can also place the mats in a dry erase pocket and use a whiteboard marker to trace over the lines.

If you are going to do this version of the shape mats, then ask the children to also focus on the shape names, which are written in the top corner of each mats. The children can trace over the letters as they play.

What You’re Learning

Math

This is a great small group activity for toddlers and preschoolers because it explores a variety of different math concepts. Use these full page mats as a shape recognition activity in your classroom if you want to learn:

Shapes and colors – learn all about 2d shapes and the different primary and secondary colors. Practice matching

Counting – Count the number of sides the shape has, or how many buttons it takes to fill up one side of the shape. This is a great way to get toddlers and preschoolers to count to 10, 20 or higher.

Informal Measuring – informal measuring refers to using something to measure other than a formal unit (e.g. an inch or cm) by using buttons, you can see how many buttons long one side of the shape. For example, the rectangle is 20 buttons long and 10 buttons high.

This is a great way to engage older children in this great activity, along with their younger siblings at the same time.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in the hand and fingers. Developing these skills are important in being able to write when the kids go to school, as well as being able to complete tasks independently. (For example, dressing and feeding themselves).

Picking up the small items, rolling the playdough and placing them onto the correct area are all going to help young kids develop:

  1. Pincer grip and/or tripod grip
  2. Hand-eye coordination
  3. Dexterity
  4. Hand strength

Are you going to make these Popsicle Stick Shape Mats for your kids?
Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.

This electronic file is for personal and classroom use only. It is not for commercial purposes. By using it, you agree that you will not copy or reproduce the file except for your own personal, non-commercial use.