Shape and Color cards

Having flashcards handy with every-day objects pictured on them are very beneficial. I use mine when talking about a certain theme or reading a book that we can associate with some items; when learning about colors or shapes, etc. It is great to get two categories going at the same time (say, the color red, and the circle shape). Pull all the cards you can that have red items, and all the cards you can that have circles somewhere in them. It's okay to put a few tricky ones that have both categories in there as well (we'll see how observant they are, as well as teach them about the concept of being "both").

The first day I introduce the set of cards we talk about and describe each of them, as well as our two categories by doing lots of different things that apply to both. I then tell the kids we're making two piles of cards but they have to help me figure out which one goes in which pile! I hold them up and let the kids yell out answers. If some of them get the pile wrong, talk it out and ask questions with the whole group. Before putting it in the pile, ask all the children to raise their hands if they think the card is a "___"

Do this a number of times over the week and they'll be great by Friday!