ABSTRACT
All things have a shape, sometimes as a result of the material from which they are made. Shapes are everywhere: the bricks or other materials that construct buildings, shapes of the structures in bridges, packing materials, furniture, transport. Some shapes such as triangles and circular items are much stronger than other shapes. Children can investigate shapes with everyday items and materials, constructing new shapes and using already made ones. They can use different materials; some materials can change shape and some have different strengths when arranged in different ways, for example a tube made out of a piece of flat paper. Early years children need first-hand experience of playing at science and engineering using a variety of shapes constructed from a range of materials.
