Montessori-Inspired Sticky Paper Shape Sorting and Counting

As part of the Cool Math for Cool Kids series, I’m joining up with lots of great bloggers to help make mathematics fun. I’m sharing a Montessori-inspired sticky paper shape sorting and counting activity.

My 20-month-old granddaughter, Zoey, loves this activity. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you)

Inspirations for Montessori-Inspired Sticky Paper Shape Sorting and Counting

I had a number of inspirations for this activity. Here are some of the main ones.

Learn with Play: 150+ Activities for Year-round Fun & Learning! This book has inspiration for LOTS AND LOTS of activities! Aysh Siddiqua from Words n Needles has a “Sticky Shapes Fun” activity in the book. Aysh’s activity has a number of great learning extensions for a variety of ages, including scissor cutting skills and making 3D figures. My activity is a Montessori-inspired spin on her activity. Mine is an activity that works well for toddlers and young preschoolers.

Zoey LOVES the tree frog in the DK Touch and Feel Wild Animals book. It has sticky pads on its “fingers” that she feels over and over. Zoey also loves stickers, so I thought this would be a fun variation.

DIY Montessori Geometric Shapes – tutorials that make it easy to make your own Montessori geometric shapes.

Montessori Isolation of Quality – a Montessori principle I find especially important when young children are first introduced to a concept.

Materials Used in Montessori-Inspired Contact Paper Shape Sorting and Counting Activity

Blue electrical tape or painter’s tape
Contact paper
Blue craft foam
Montessori Services basket (small willow basket)
Free printable metal inset shapes from Montessori Mom

Montessori-Inspired Sticky Paper Shape Sorting and Counting

Sorting Foam Shapes on Sticky Paper

I taped the contact paper to a window for my activity, although you could use a wall or table. I used the Montessori principle of isolation of quality by making my shapes one color. I especially like to use isolation of quality for young children in their early introductions to a concept. I only used the circle, triangle, square, and rectangle to make the activity simpler for a toddler. You could even use circle, triangle, and square only. Or, for an older child, you could use a number of the Montessori geometric shapes used in the metal insets or geometric cabinet.

First, I showed Zoey how to sort the shapes. We also counted each shape. I only cut out 5 of each shape, although you could choose the number according to the age of your child.

Sorting Foam Shapes on Sticky Paper at 20 Months

Then Zoey sorted the shapes.

Having Fun with Sticky Paper Shape Process Art at 20 Months

Later, Zoey had fun with some process art.

Basket with Foam Shapes

We keep the shapes in a basket on her shelf, which she takes to the sticky paper window whenever she wants to work with them.

Cool Maths for Cool Kids

Thanks so much to Helen from Peakle Pie for organizing this series. You’ll find the landing page for the complete Cool Maths for Cool Kids series at Peakle Pie.

For more fun with shape counting and sorting, be sure to check out Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails tomorrow!