54 DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET M A K E E A R LY L E A R N I N G S TA N D A R D S C O M E A L I V E Common Practices in an Early Childhood Classroom Where This Standard May Be Addressed Early Learning Standards “The child will describe simple geometric shapes (circle, triangle, rectangle, and square) and indicate their position in relation to an individual and to other objects.” —Virginia’s Foundation Blocks for Early Learning: Comprehensive Standards for Four-Year-Olds Making geometry and spatial awareness part of the classroom environment, materials, and activities as children work and play and go about their daily routines Children are exploring the world around them and learning the vocabulary to identify shape names (circle, triangle, square) and their attributes (round, three corners, four even sides) as well as to understand directionality, dimen- sions, and manipulation of objects in space (up, down, behind, under). You can give them many opportunities to build and construct with blocks and other objects, to create shapes through art materials, to move their own bodies in space, and to learn more about the vocabulary of shapes and directions. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL