Shape Finders with DIY Shape Magnifying Glasses, FREE Printable

Have you ever noticed how children are naturally curious about the world around them? They love to look closely at things, ask questions, and discover patterns. That’s what makes this DIY Shape Finder Activity a perfect fit for early learning classrooms, it blends fun, exploration, and math learning in a hands-on, interactive way.

Whether you're teaching in a preschool, or kindergarten, or planning STEM activities for elementary students, this printable is an engaging way to bring geometry to life. With free shape magnifying glasses and a shape hunt challenge, kids become little shape detectives, exploring their environment and strengthening early math skills, all while having fun.

Shape Finders with DIY Shape Magnifying Glasses, FREE Printable

Material includes:

FREE Shape Finder Printable PDF (download from the bottom)

    Square
Circle
Triangle
Rectangle      
Hexagon

Each magnifier includes an open “window” where kids can pretend to search for shapes through a lens, giving it a playful, detective-style twist. This ties into STEAM education by mixing art and design with math and observation.

Shape Finders with DIY Shape Magnifying Glasses, FREE Printable

How to Make Your Shape Magnifying Glasses:

Creating your classroom set is simple and low-prep. Here's what you’ll need:

Download (Download from the bottom)and print the two copies of each magnifying glass from the free PDF Scissors to cut out the frame and center window.
Transparent plastic sheet (optional, but gives it that real “lens” feel, even a recycled plastic cover works!)
Glue or a glue stick
Thick cardstock or a laminator for added durability

How to Assemble the Shape Finder Tools

Print two copies of each shape magnifier. (download from the bottom)

Cut around the shape and cut out the center circle (window).
If using a transparent sheet, place it between the two cutouts.
Glue everything together.
Laminate it if possible.

Let dry, and you’re ready to explore

Pro Tip:

Use Google Chrome download or Google Workspace to save and share the digital file with parents or other teachers for quick classroom access.

Let the Shape Hunt Begin! | Where to Use the Shape Finders

This shape-finding adventure can happen anywhere. Encourage your students to explore with their shape magnifiers indoors and out.

Indoor Shape Hunt:

Spot squares in floor tiles or books

Find circles on clocks or buttons

Search for triangles in banners or corners of shelves

Outdoor Shape Hunt:

Identify hexagons in playground equipment

Find parallelograms in fences or benches

Look for shapes in nature – leaves, rocks, or even clouds!

Extension Idea:

Invite kids to take photos of the shapes they find using a classroom tablet (or your Google Chrome-enabled device) or let them draw their discoveries on clipboards. This adds art and technology into your lesson, a great way to align with STEAM education goals.

Teacher Tip: Build Language and Thinking First

Start the lesson by asking:
Where do you see shapes every day?

Make a list together. Use this as a pre-hunt activity to activate prior knowledge and boost excitement.

After the hunt, reflect as a group:

Which shapes were easiest to find?

Which were tricky?
Did they find shapes they didn’t expect?
This simple discussion builds not only math understanding but language development, memory, and reasoning — a cornerstone of quality STEM activities for kindergarten.

Shape Finders with DIY Shape Magnifying Glasses, FREE Printable

Why This Shape Activity Is More Than Just Fun

When we talk about STEM education, we often focus on science and technology. But mathematics, especially early math, plays a powerful role in shaping young learners' brains. This shape hunt activity is a great example of how Preschool STEM activities can introduce math concepts through movement, language, and creativity.
By using their DIY magnifying glasses to search for shapes, children are learning more than just names. They’re building:
Visual discrimination (spotting differences and similarities)
Spatial awareness (understanding where things are and how they fit together)
Critical thinking and early categorization skills
Math vocabulary (like corner, side, curve, edge)

This activity is inspired by inquiry-based learning and play-based teaching, both key pillars in quality early childhood programs, and often highlighted in programs like a Master’s in STEM education.

Why This Activity Supports STEM Education

What is STEAM education, and how does this simple shape activity fit in?

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math and this activity touches on all of them:

Science: Observation and categorization'

Technology: Using devices to record findings

Engineering: Constructing the magnifiers

Art: Creativity in how they find or represent shapesMath shape recognition and spatial thinking

These inexperiences mirror the goals of STEM education: building inquiry, curiosity, and problem-solving in real-world contexts, even for our youngest learners.

Benefits of STEM Education Start Early

You don’t need advanced tools or expensive kits. With simple printable tools like these Shape Finders, you're introducing STEM education in a way that’s joyful, relevant, and easy to implement, whether you're in a school, daycare, or homeschool setting.

Why is STEM education important?

Because it teaches kids how to think, not just what to think. This printable supports that mission, all through a game of shape spotting.

And yes, even careers like cybersecurity, engineering, or data analysis all begin with these foundational math and observation skills. That’s why more schools and programs are investing in early STEM and STEAM education initiatives.

Ready to bring shape learning to life?

Click the button below to grab your FREE printable and start your shape hunt adventure today!

Download the Free Shape Hunt Printable]
Ideal for:

Preschool and Kindergarten

Homeschoolers

Outdoor Math Lessons

Inquiry & Play-Based Learning

Math Centers and Small Group Activities

BONUS: Link Learning to Technology

Want to take this activity to the next level?

Use Google Workspace to assign reflection questions digitally.

Let kids document findings on a shared Google Doc.

Or try drawing found shapes using Google Jamboard on Google Chrome.

This brings the activity into the digital age while reinforcing observation, communication, and creative expression, making it a truly 21st-century STEM activity.

Final Thoughts

This Shape Finder Magnifying Glass Activity proves that learning math doesn't need to be boring or stuck in a workbook. With a little creativity and a free printable, you can spark curiosity, boost learning, and set a strong foundation for STEM education. Starting with something as simple as recognizing a circle on a chair or a triangle on a wall.

Let’s raise a generation of thinkers, explorers, and problem-solvers — one shape at a time.

Download Your Free Shape Finder PDF here