Count the ShapesFree printable worksheets
Aims
- Seeing a whole picture as separate shapes (part-whole perception)
- Knowing a shape is the same even when its size or direction changes (form constancy)
- Telling apart similar shapes, such as squares and rectangles (visual discrimination)
- Keeping track of which shapes have been counted so none are missed (attention and visual scanning)
Your child looks at a picture made of shapes, counts how many of each shape are in it, and writes the numbers in the boxes.To do this, they need to see a house, a vehicle or an animal not as one picture but as many separate shapes.At higher levels there are more shapes and more kinds, shapes touch each other, and shapes sit inside other shapes.Levels 4 and 5 also include triangles pointing in different directions and circles inside circles.Every shape has the same proportions as the shape in the answer box; only the size changes.Your child can compare and ask, "Which ones match this shape?" The activity aims to build the ability to break a picture into shapes and to count without missing any.
The worksheets print fine in black and white. The answer page colors each kind of shape differently, so color printing is recommended for it.
Level 3 example ›
Levels
| Level 1 | Circles, triangles and squares. About 8 shapes, all apart. 2 pictures per page. | 5 worksheets |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | Circles, triangles and squares. About 12 to 15 shapes, now touching each other. 2 pictures per page. | 5 worksheets |
| Level 3 | Squares and rectangles are counted separately (4 kinds). About 16 to 21 shapes, with shapes inside shapes. 2 pictures per page. | 5 worksheets |
| Level 4 | Diamonds are added (5 kinds). About 26 to 35 shapes, with triangles turned in different directions and circles inside circles. 1 picture per page. | 5 worksheets |
| Level 5 | Half circles are added (6 kinds). About 44 to 50 shapes, with rows of small shapes and circles three deep. 1 picture per page. | 5 worksheets |
Tips
- Pick one kind of shape, find only that shape in the picture, and write how many in the box. Putting a check mark on each shape as you count helps avoid missing one or counting it twice.
For what to say, choosing a level and what to do if it is too hard, see Count the Shapes: a guide for grown-ups.
Worksheets
Choose a worksheet to open its printing page.
Print in bulk
Level 1Circles, triangles and squares. About 8 shapes, all apart. 2 pictures per page.
Level 2Circles, triangles and squares. About 12 to 15 shapes, now touching each other. 2 pictures per page.
Level 3Squares and rectangles are counted separately (4 kinds). About 16 to 21 shapes, with shapes inside shapes. 2 pictures per page.
Level 4Diamonds are added (5 kinds). About 26 to 35 shapes, with triangles turned in different directions and circles inside circles. 1 picture per page.
Level 5Half circles are added (6 kinds). About 44 to 50 shapes, with rows of small shapes and circles three deep. 1 picture per page.
Count the Shapes: a guide for grown-ups
Who it is for
- Finds shapes hardPractice telling circles, triangles and squares apart and matching names to shapes.
- Sees pictures as a wholePractice breaking a picture into separate shapes.
- Often misses some when countingPractice counting every shape by marking as you go.
- Loves shape playYour child can go back and forth between the page and blocks or shape sorters.
Choosing a level
Counted on their own and matched the answer
- Go up one level.
- Count with the eyes only, without check marks.
- Time it and compare with the last time.
Counts the same shape twice, or counts touching shapes as one
- Go down one level.
- Color each kind of shape with a colored pencil while counting.
- Ask "Where are the circles?" one kind at a time and have your child point to them.
What to watch for
| How they count | Does your child jump around the picture? Or go from top to bottom, or one kind of shape at a time? |
|---|---|
| Mistakes | Too many usually means a shape was counted twice; too few often means a small shape, or a shape inside another, was missed. Compare with the colors on the answer page. |
| Time | Writing the time at the bottom of the page each time makes small changes easier to notice. Copying it onto the Time Log lets you line up results at the same level. |
If something keeps worrying you, it can help to talk with an eye doctor or another specialist rather than deciding on your own.
Things you can say
- Before startingWhat shapes is this picture made of?Before counting, look for the shapes in the picture together.
- When unsureLet's find just the circles.One kind at a time makes missed shapes easier to notice.
- Checking answersLet's compare with the colored shapes.The answer page colors each kind of shape differently.
FAQ
Is there an answer page?
Yes. Page 2 of the PDF is the answer page. The shapes are colored by kind, and the numbers are written in the boxes.
Do triangles that don't point up still count as triangles?
Yes. Levels 4 and 5 include triangles turned in different directions. They are all the same shape (equilateral triangles), only turned. In Levels 1 to 3, every triangle points up.
How do we tell squares from rectangles?
Count by matching the shapes in the answer boxes. Every rectangle has the same proportions (twice as wide as it is tall, sometimes standing up), so it can be told apart from a square by comparing.
How much should we do at a time?
There is no set amount. Each page has 1 or 2 pictures. See "Every Day? How Much?" for more.
Articles
- What Is Visual Perception? More Than Good Eyesight
- When a Child's Tracing Slips onto Another Shape: Understanding Figure-Ground Perception
- A Child Who Often Misses Things: Before Saying "Look Carefully," Look at How They Miss
- Can Read Letters but Can't Write Them? Four Ways to See Where Writing Gets Stuck
About the code at the bottom right
The code at the bottom right of each worksheet (for example, katachi-kazoe-L1-k3-q2) shows its difficulty settings. Worksheets with the same code have the same difficulty. If you contact us about a worksheet, including this code helps us find it right away.
