Count and Tap
Tap each bug once to count it, then say how many.
- Ages 3–6
- Counting to 20
- One-to-one counting
Shape Pop
Shape Pop is one of our free shapes games for ages 3 to 6. Pop every bubble that holds the shape Mathumo asks for: circles, squares, triangles and more.
🎉 You popped 6 sets of shapes!
How to play
Pop every bubble that holds the shape Mathumo asks for: circles, squares, triangles and more.
- These shapes games have three modes: 4 shapes, More shapes or Sides and corners. Pick one.
- Read the prompt, for example “Pop all the triangles!”. Mathumo’s words are always shown on screen.
- Tap each bubble that holds a shape that fits. It pops. The shapes can be big or small, in any color, and turned any way.
- If you tap a different shape, the bubble wobbles and a short note tells you what that shape is and what to look for. After two tries, the right bubbles are outlined in gold.
- Pop all the shapes to finish a prompt. Six prompts make a round.
The bubbles bob gently but never float away, so there is no rush. Take your time to look at each shape.
What children learn
- Naming shapes: circle, square, triangle and rectangle first, then oval, hexagon, pentagon and diamond (rhombus).
- Seeing shapes in any position: a triangle is still a triangle when it is turned upside down, and so is a square.
- Sides and corners: counting the straight sides and the corners to tell shapes apart.
Guides for parents
Ideas for playing and talking about math away from the screen, related to Shape Pop.
More games
Number Path
Help Mathumo cross the stones by stepping on the numbers in order.
- Ages 4–6
- Number order to 20
- Reading numerals
Questions about Shape Pop
What are good shapes games for preschoolers?
Good shapes games for preschoolers ask children to find and name shapes in different sizes, colors and positions, not only the standard picture. In Shape Pop a child pops the bubbles that hold the shape Mathumo asks for, from circles and squares to hexagons. A shape hunt around the house works well too.
What shapes should a 4-year-old know?
Most preschool programs focus on the circle, square, triangle and rectangle at about age 4, with the oval and the diamond (rhombus) added soon after. Children learn to name shapes by seeing them in many sizes and positions, not only the standard picture.
What is the difference between a square and a rectangle?
Both have 4 sides and 4 square corners. A square has 4 equal sides. A rectangle has two long sides and two short sides. A square is a special kind of rectangle, but young children learn them as two different shapes first.
Why does the game turn the shapes?
Children who only see a triangle with a flat bottom can decide that an upside-down triangle is a different shape. Seeing shapes in many positions helps them focus on the sides and corners, which stay the same however a shape is turned.
How many sides and corners does a circle have?
A circle has no straight sides and no corners; it is one smooth curve. That is why this game counts circles and ovals as having none.