They should explore shapes by decomposing them and creating new ones. Their knowledge of direction and position should be refined through the use of spoken language to locate objects by giving and following multistep directions. Geometry offers students an aspect of mathematical thinking that is different from, but connected to, the world of numbers. As students become familiar with shape, structure, location, and transformations and as they develop spatial reasoning, they lay the foundation for understanding not only their spatial world but also other topics in mathematics and in art, science, and social studies. Some students' capabilities with geometric and spatial concepts exceed their number skills.
Children begin forming concepts of shape long before formal schooling.
The primary grades are an ideal time to help them refine and extend their understandings. Young students begin by using their own vocabulary to describe objects, talking about how they are alike and how they are different. The goal is that early experiences with geometry lay the foundation for more-formal geometry in later grades. Using terminology to focus attention and to clarify ideas during discussions can help students build that foundation. Teachers must provide materials and structure the environment appropriately to encourage students to explore shapes and their attributes.