Back to the Imaginarium
Ages 1–5Whimsical
Shapes Theme Dinner
A first course in geometry — circles, squares, triangles and fun.
This themed dinner is a fun and creative way to introduce kids to basic shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. Each meal component will represent a different shape, and fun activities throughout the week will make learning shapes an interactive experience. Just like any theme dinner, this can be tailored to your family's needs. Whether you set aside five days or stretch it out to two weeks, the goal is to bring the family together, learn something new, and have fun!
Take breaks when needed according to the attention span of your children and your own. When this endeavor becomes a chore, the positive aspects of learning are lost. The point is to bond and learn surprising things from, and with, your family.
Gather Your Supplies
The Provisions
Props
- Crayons and blank paper for placemats
- Poster-board or cardboard to cut out various shapes for the centerpiece
- Tissue paper, scrap colored paper, glue, and crayons to decorate the centerpiece
- Play dough (homemade or store-bought)
- Paper and pens for the menu
- Scissors and colored paper to make shapes
Recipes & Food
- Circle: Mini pizzas, pancakes, round crackers, or apple slices
- Square: Grilled cheese sandwiches cut into squares, square-shaped crackers
- Triangle: Triangle-shaped tortilla chips, triangle sandwiches
- Rectangle: Long pieces of lasagna, carrot sticks, or celery sticks
- Oval: Slices of pear or hard-boiled eggs
- Heart: Heart-shaped fruit slices like strawberries, watermelon, or cookies
Language & Music
- Use as many words as possible related to shapes
- Make up silly alliterative rhymes using shape names ("A triangle likes to climb!")
- Sing a shape song or make up your own tune to help reinforce the shapes
- Learn the ASL signs for the shapes
Peripherals
- Shape sorting worksheets for the fridge
- Shape puzzles (matching shapes to objects, or simple crosswords)
- Shape flashcards
- Alliterative worksheet for fun shape sentences
Your Week of Wonder
The Five-Day Itinerary
1
Monday
Brainstorm & Puzzle
- Start your week by picking out shapes to focus on. Let the kids choose their favorite shapes, choose from shapes found in their name, or select shapes from objects around the house (a round clock for circle, a square window).
- While you prepare dinner, have the kids complete a simple shape puzzle, sorting shapes, or matching them to objects they know.
- During dinner, brainstorm foods and objects that are shaped like the ones you've chosen. Record them on your Team Tasks Worksheet and choose one or two that will appear in your final dinner on Day Five.
2
Tuesday
Placemats & Task Worksheet
- Create placemats by drawing large shapes on blank paper. For each shape, write the name and let the kids color them in. For younger kids, help them trace the shapes with dotted lines.
- Set up a task worksheet where the kids can practice drawing the shapes they learned about. If your kids can write, have them list other objects that are shaped like those shapes.
- During dinner, help the kids come up with accessories they can wear that match the shapes of the day (a round hat for the circle, a square napkin for the square). Write these down on the task worksheet for later use.
3
Wednesday
Centerpiece & Shape Play
- Make your centerpiece! Cut out large shapes from cardboard or poster board. Let the kids decorate the shapes with crayons, paint, or tissue paper. Once dry, arrange the shapes into a fun display for your theme dinner night centerpiece.
- Prepare a fun shape-inspired meal — a "shape dip" where they can use triangle chips to scoop out rectangular pieces of cheese or square-shaped veggies.
- During dinner, talk about how shapes are everywhere around us. Ask your kids to point out any shapes they see at the table or in the room.
4
Thursday
Shape Playdough & Alliterative Worksheet
- Cover the table with newspaper and set out homemade or store-bought playdough. Encourage the kids to roll, press, and mold the playdough into various shapes. Use cookie cutters to make precise shapes like circles, squares, and triangles.
- For extra fun, bake the playdough into shape-shaped props to use for the final dinner.
- Challenge the kids to think of descriptive words for each shape ("A square is flat and has four equal sides!"). Have them write or draw these words using the Alliterative Worksheet.
5
Friday
Final Shape Dinner
- Congratulations, you've made it to the final dinner! Today, put everything together for your dynamic shapes dinner.
- Menu: Mini round pizzas (circle), square grilled cheese sandwiches (square), triangle-shaped tortilla chips (triangle), rectangle lasagna pieces (rectangle), oval-shaped fruit slices (oval), and heart-shaped cookies or fruit (heart).
- Set the table with your homemade placemats, display the shapes you made as the centerpiece, and dress in objects that start with your chosen shapes. Let the kids help stir the soup, shape the breadsticks, and carve fruit into heart or oval shapes.
