Learn Spanish through Play: AT THE PARK // Shapes! w/ FREE PRINTABLE

by | Jul 15, 2013 | Learn Spanish with Play

Learning through play is the way to go; engaging all the senses makes learning “stick.”  And if your children are anything like my boys, we accomplish more learning when they do not know it is happening.  That might be because they are boys, or it might be their age–who knows?  We have been visiting parks all around our area lately and I have been trying to sneak in some learning where I can.  Every time I see a shape I point it out, like “Wow!  Look!  There is a cuadro!”  or “Do you see that giant círculo?”  I thought it was not really working, until one day at the park Jefe pointed out to me!  

Take a look at this chart to learn the Spanish shapes you can teach your kiddos at the park!  You can print off the pictures below too for some shnazzy flash cards (is shnazzy really a word!?).  Also, see below for some fun Spanish phrases to try as well and a FREE PRINTABLE shape scavenger hunt.

Spanish
Pronunciation
English
círculo
SEER-koo-loh
circle
cuadro
KWAH-droh
square
triángulo
tree-AHN-goo-loh
triangle
rectángulo
rehk-TAHN-goo-loh
rectangle
óvalo
OH-vah-loh
oval
corazón
core-ah-SOHN
heart
estrella
ehs-TRAY-yah
star
diamante
dee-ah-MAHN-tay
diamond
pentágono
pehn-TAHG-oh-noh
pentagon
hexágono
ex-AHG-oh-noh
hexagon
octagon
ohk-TAHG-oh-noh
octagon
rombo
ROHM-boh
rhombus

Circles are even better if you can climb on them, right?

As you can see it took several trips to the park to find a variety of shapes.

Triangles were hard for us to find!
Spanish Phrases for Learning Shapes
Spanish
Pronunciation
English
Veo, veo un __________.
VAY-oh, VAY-oh oohn SEER-koo-loh
I see, I see a/an ____________.
¿Dónde está el _________?
DOHN-day ehs-TAH ehl
Where is the ____________?
¡Aquí!
ah-KEY
Here!
Toca un _____________.
TOH-kah oohn
Touch a ___________?
¡Mira un ___________!
MEER-ah oohn
Look a ____________!
As always, do not be afraid to speak Spanglish!  If you are just learning Spanish yourself and you do not feel comfortable using the phrases above, ease yourself into it by using English and only inserting the Spanish shape word.  For example, “I spy a …”  or “Can you find a …?”  However, if you do want to use the phrases above, try these games with your kiddos:
  • With the “Veo, veo…” phrase once you say the shape you see, have your child run as fast as they can to find it.  When they find it they can shout “aquí.”
  • Try the same game but asking “Where is the…?” in Spanish.
  • If you have more than one child you can turn it into a race by saying “Toca un…”  The first child to touch the shape you name wins!
  • Or if your kiddos are still too young for these ideas (like my little Scachemo) just point out the shapes you see in an excited, exaggerated voice: “Mira un….!”
  • And last but not least, print out this FREE PRINTABLE to do a shape scavenger hunt!  There is a place where your child can check off shapes they find, a column to draw the shapes they find, and a column to write where they found it (e.g. on the fence, in the monkey bars, etc.).  This part they can write in English or Spanish, or if they do not write yet, they can draw to object that has he shape.
I hope you have fun discovering Spanish shapes all around you!!
Kali Carollo

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