2025 Kansas MTSS & Alignment Symposium

Geometry and patterns help young children recognize structure and meaning in the world around them. In this session, we’ll explore how early geometric thinking develops through playful interactions with shapes, movement, and space, grounded in the Van Hiele model of geometric understanding. We’ll also dive into the role of repeating patterns—how they support attention, prediction, and reasoning—and why they deserve a central place in early learning. Through activities like Same But Different, which helps children compare and contrast shapes and objects, we’ll see how geometry and patterns work together to build spatial awareness and critical thinking. Using real-world examples, story-based tasks, and everyday materials, participants will engage in activities that nurture children’s ability to see math in the structure, rhythm, and beauty of their environment.