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Teacher Notes (not visible to students)

This activity helps first graders identify and describe simple 3D shapes (cube, sphere, cylinder, cone) and determine whether objects roll or stack. Use class discussion and guided practice at the start. Show real examples (a ball, a box, a can, a cone) and model how to say one property (e.g., “It has flat faces”). Prepare a tablet or camera for each pair of students for the hunt. Provide sticky notes or small labels for students who prefer writing on paper before adding text boxes to photos. For open-ended responses, high-quality answers name the object correctly and give a clear property using everyday words (e.g., “Cube — flat faces” or “Cylinder — curved side, flat top”). For sorting and matching, correct answers show the student used shape properties (flat vs. curved) to decide. When grading partner work, look for effort in finding objects, accurate labels, and a reasonable property statement. Teachers can prompt students who make common errors by asking, “Does it roll smoothly? How many flat faces does it have?”