This set of 12 hands-on Shape Challenge Cards gives children opportunities to touch, build, sort, investigate, talk and discover their maths using simple classroom and natural resources.

Designed for Year 1, the activities explore key learning around 2-D and 3-D shapes through meaningful practical experiences.
Teach it practically, then leave it out for children to revisit independently.
Once children understand how the challenges work, the cards can be placed in your continuous provision or maths area, allowing children to return to their learning, practise key skills and develop independence.
Why teachers will love them

✓ Practical, hands-on maths – an alternative to another worksheet
✓ Minimal preparation – choose a card, gather a few simple resources and go
✓ Independent continuous provision – children can revisit activities themselves
✓ TA friendly – clear instructions make them ideal for teaching assistants to pick up and use
✓ Great for cover – ready-made practical maths activities with clear prompts
✓ Small-group intervention – revisit shape concepts in an engaging, concrete way
✓ Encourages mathematical talk – questions and vocabulary help children explain their thinking
✓ Uses everyday resources – blocks, baskets, loose parts, natural materials and classroom objects
Activities include opportunities to recognise, name, sort, compare, build with and investigate 2-D and 3-D shapes, with additional challenges to extend children’s thinking.
Each card includes what you need, simple step-by-step instructions, maths vocabulary, talk prompts, a visual example and an extra challenge, making them easy for both adults and children to follow.
Perfect for Year 1 maths lessons • continuous provision • independent learning • maths areas • interventions • TA-led groups • cover lessons • practical assessment.
Less time preparing worksheets. More time actually doing maths.
Little Learning Lane – practical resources for purposeful, independent learning.