FRIENDSHAPE

Friendshape, POSTED BY AMINA UMMA

Title: Friendshape

Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthall  

Illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld

Recommended Grade Level: Pre-K & Kindergarten

Common Core Mathematics Standard:

PK.OA.2. Understand simple patterns.

PK.G.1. Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and 

describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as top, bottom, up, down, in front of, behind, over, under, and next to.

PK.G.2. Correctly name shapes regardless of size.

PK.G.3. Analyze, compare, and sort two- and three-dimensional shapes and objects, in different sizes, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, and other attributes (e.g., color, size, and shape).

K.G.2. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size.

Summary: This book is about friendship and how friends come in all different sizes and shapes. It describes the similarities and differences that exist amongst friends and peers. It uses shapes and patterns to introduce basic geometry as well as teaches social and emotional skills.

Rating: *****I like this book a lot and would highly recommend it to all Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers. This is a great book to use at the beginning of the school year as an introduction to shapes and colors. Along with the different shapes and patterns, it can also be used to teach students the social and emotional skills required by the common core standards. Overall, this is a great book that presents students with situations they encounter on a daily basis and thus can make connections to.

Classroom Ideas: This book could be used to teach students logic and sequence, introduction to measurements and basic geometry such as shapes and sizes. Logic and sequence can be covered by asking students to do a response to literature through art after each reading of the book. Students can either draw or cut out the picture of the different shapes they remember from the story and place them in the order they were introduced in the book. While students dictate their story, the teacher can assess their understanding by writing down their dictation of the sequence of events based on their drawings. This book can also be used to help students build socialization skills.