How to Make a Preschool Shape Memory Game

My preschool aged son absolutely adores playing Memory. We began with a store bought animal Memory game, but when I was looking for a new and original way of introducing various shapes into his vocabulary and reintroducing shapes we had already worked on, I thought of making a memory game for him. This game has proven to be a success as he's played with it many times now throughout a good number of months. Here's how to make your own Shape Memory Game.

What you'll need:

Computer paper and access to a computer (or a marker and card stock in place of the computer)
Double sided tape
Card stock in a color of your choosing (bold colors work well)
Scissors
Contact paper

Step One:

Start out by using your computer to search for shapes that are catching to the eye. Here are a couple of sites that you may find useful:

http://classroomclipart.com/cgi-bin/kids/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Clipart/Shapes

http://www.abcteach.com/directory/shape_books/patterns_and_coloring_pages/shapes/

Print out two sets of any one shape that you'd like to work with (i.e. print out two circles, two squares, two triangles, etc.) Be sure that each shape is approximately the same size when you print them out. They can either be in color or they can be black and white.

Step Two:

Cut your card stock into rectangles, each of the exact same size, one rectangle for each shape that you have. Cut your shapes out using your scissors then take your double sided tape and place it on the back side of your shape. Place one shape down in the center of one rectangle card stock piece (you may forgo this step if you have chosen not to use your computer to print out shapes. Simply use a marker and draw on a shape to the center of your rectangle card stock piece and then color it in).

Step Three:

Set aside your card stock which now have the shapes taped onto them. Take out a sheet of contact paper and cut it to your desired length. Please note that if you attempt to use a larger piece you may find that you'll have difficulty in keeping this piece from adhering to itself. Smaller sheets tend to work the best. Place a sheet of contact paper onto a hard surface (table top, counter) sticky side up. Take one of your rectangles and place it on the stick portion of the contact paper, then another rectangle, until the contact paper is full. You may need more sheets of contact paper to fill each rectangle, so you can simply do this step over again. Note also that it's good to place each rectangle approximately one inch from any other rectangle. This makes it much easier to cut out when you are ready to do so.

Step Four:

With the rectangles resting on the sticky side of the contact paper, cut off another sheet of contact paper that is approximately the same size as the sheet you are currently using. Slowly place this on the top of the first sheet of contact paper and the rectangles. Once done, press down on your contact paper slowly and from the middle to adhere the paper together.

Step Five:

You are now ready to cut your rectangles out. Be sure that you don't cut directly on your rectangle - leave a bit of the contact paper on each side so that it's stuck together and, in turn, holds your rectangle in the middle. This helps to protect the card stock and your memory game will last that much longer with preschool fingers constantly tugging and playing with it.

Enjoy!

Hopefully your preschooler will enjoy this shape memory game just as much as my son has enjoyed his. It's definitely a more unique way of teaching your preschooler their shapes.