Learning About Shapes: 20 Rhymes, Action Songs & Finger Plays

I have always loved singing finger plays and action songs with young children – in both my classroom and at home with my own daughters. In fact, even now I am known to break into song at a moments notice when something we are doing triggers a memory of a finger play they loved when they were little.

Finger plays and action songs are songs, chants or rhymes that use hand and body movements to accompany the words being spoken or sung. Getting children to move as they learn is fabulous engaging the visual, auditory and physical systems of the body with a learning concepts – which makes finger plays and action songs about concepts, such as the list below about 2D shapes, a valuable learning tool.

And this form of learning has been used for centuries, as mothers and grandmothers have sung songs and rhymes to teach early skills and concepts like counting and naming colours, even in the years before preschool and kindergarten existed.

RELATED: See our complete collection of fun, themed children’s rhymes, songs and finger plays. Perfect for preschool and kindergarten

Do You Know What Shape This Is? (sung to The Muffin Man)

Do you know what shape this is? Shape this is? Shape this is? Do you know what shape this is? I鈥檓 holding in my hand? (hold up a different shape each time you sing)

If You鈥檙e Holding (sung to If You鈥檙e Happy and You Know It)

Before singing, give each child a 2D pattern block to hold.

If you鈥檙e holding a square stand up! If you鈥檙e holding a square stand up! If you鈥檙e holding a square, if you鈥檙e holding a square If you鈥檙e holding a square stand up.

Repeat with other shapes

Where Is…? (sung to Where Is Thumbkin?)

Before singing, give each child a 2D pattern block to hold.

Where is triangle? Where is triangle? Here I am, here I am. (children holding triangles hold them in the air) How are you today, sir? Very well, I thank you, Run away, run away. (children hide shape behind their back)

Repeat with other shapes

Make a Circle, Make a Square (sung to Oh My Darling Clementine)

Make a circle, make a circle, Draw it high in the sky. Use your finger, use your finger, Make it round, as round as pie.

Make a square, make a square, Make the lines nice and straight. Make a square, make a square, You could draw one or draw eight.

Make a triangle, make a triangle, Always start at the top. Make a tent shape for a triangle, Use three lines, and then you stop!

Shapes Song (Sung to Fr猫re Jacques)

This is a square, this is a square, How can you tell? How can you tell? It has four sides, All the same size, It’s a square, it’s a square.

This is a circle, this is a circle, How can you tell? How can you tell? It goes round and round, No end can be found, It’s a circle, it’s a circle.

This is a triangle, this is a triangle, How can you tell? How can you tell? It only has three sides, That join to make three points, It’s a triangle, it’s a triangle.

This is a rectangle, this is a rectangle, How can you tell? How can you tell? It has two short sides, And it has two long sides, It’s a rectangle, it’s a rectangle.

The Square Shape Song (Sung to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)

Put your square shape in the air, Hold it high and keep it there.

Put your square shape on your back, Now please lay it on your lap.

Put your square shape on your toes, Now please hold it by your nose.

Hold your square shape in your hand, Now will everyone please stand.

Wave your square shape at the door, Now please lay it on the floor.

Hold your square shape and jump, jump, jump, Now throw your square shape way, way up.

Sammy Square Sammy square is my name My four sides are just the same Turn me around, I don’t care I’m always the same I’m Sammy Square.

Square Rhyme Here鈥檚 a shape that you will know (form square with fingers) A square is its name. It has four corners and four sides That measure all the same.

Related: 15 Hands On Activities for Learning About 2D and 3D Shapes

Circle Song (sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

Have children stand together in a circle

Come on, all join hands, Make a circle round. Circle left, circle right, (side step to the left and then side step to the right) Turning all around.

Coins, wheels, buttons and rings, All are circles round. Everywhere you go today, Circles can be found.

Circle Song (sung to If You’re Happy and You Know It)

A circle is a shape that goes round, A circle is a shape that goes round A circle is a shape that goes round, And round and round. A circle is a shape that goes round.

Tiptoe slowly on the circle and go round. Tiptoe slowly on the circle and go round. Tiptoe slowly on the circle, And go round and round and round. Tiptoe slowly on the circle and go round.

Suzy Circle I’m Suzy circle I’m happy as can be I go round and round Can you draw me?

Circle Rhyme The circle is a shape (form circle with fingers) That鈥檚 easy to be found. It has no corners on it It is completely round.

Tommy Triangle I’m Tommy Triangle Look at me Count my sides One, two, three.

Triangle Rhyme The triangle is a simple shape (form triangle with fingers) I think you will agree. Count its sides and corners And you will find just three.

Rectangle Song (sung to Old McDonald)

My rectangle has four sides,聽EIEIO! But all four sides are not the same,聽EIEIO! With two sides big and two sides small, My rectangle has four sides,聽EIEIO!

On my rectangle can be聽found,聽EIEIO! Four right angles all around,聽EIEIO! With two sides聽short and two sides tall, Yes, two sides big and two sides small, My rectangle has four sides,聽EIEIO!

Rectangle Song (Sung to B-I-N-G-O)

There is a shape that has four sides, But it is not a square no. It’s a rectangle, it’s a rectangle, it’s a rectangle, It is not like a square no.

Two sides are long, two sides are short, They are not the same no. It’s a rectangle, it’s a rectangle, it’s a rectangle, The sides are not the same NO.

Ricky Rectangle Ricky Rectangle is my name My four sides are not the same 2 are short and 2 are long Count my sides, come right along 1-2-3-4

Harry Heart Harry Heart is my name The shape I make is my fame With a point on the bottom And two humps on top When it comes to love I just can’t stop!

The Queen of Hearts The queen of hearts made some tarts (make a heart shape with fingers) All on a summer鈥檚 day. The knave of hearts stole those tarts And took them clean away!

Opal Oval Opal Oval is my name The circle and I are not the same The circle is round, as round can be I’m shaped like an egg as you can see.

You might also like to check out our collection of 15 Preschool Counting Songs, Finger Plays and Rhymes.