How to Make a DIY Superhero Cape and Mask With an Old T-Shirt

Make a DIY superhero cape and mask using an old t-shirt. In this hands-on craft activity, your child will practice naming shapes while using imagination and becoming a superhero!

Learning Goals

This activity will help your child:

• Recognize and identify shapes
• Create shapes out of construction paper
• Compare shapes by their attributes

Materials

• Adult t-shirt
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Markers

Vocabulary

• Geometry is the type of mathematics that deals with shapes and their properties. Geometry is foundational to an understanding of mathematics and essential for young children.
• Shapes are geometric figures. They are two-dimensional when they lack depth (flat shapes). For example, a circle is a two-dimensional shape. Shapes are three-dimensional when they have length, width and depth (solid shapes). For example, a cube is a three-dimensional shape.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Create your cape. Take an old adult-size t-shirt, cut along the seams using scissors, and remove the sleeves carefully. Open it, so it looks like a long rectangle with a circle in the middle, and cut it around the circle to make a cape.

2. Decorate your cape with shapes. Think about what your superhero name will be and what shape you would like to use to decorate your cape. For example, a circle, a star, or a square! Cut your shape out of construction paper and write the first letter of your superhero name. Then, glue the shape onto your cape!

3. Create your mask. Cut a straight line on one of the leftover sleeves to make it a narrow rectangle shape.

Draw two circles with markers for the eyes (Tip: Try it on over your eyes to measure where the eye openings should be). Fold the cloth in half from the long side to create the mask. Cut out the two semicircles. It should reveal two circle openings for the eyes when you unfold it!

Lastly, cut out a small triangle shape by cutting two small diagonal slits right on the bottom center of the mask for the nose. Ta-tam! Superhero to the rescue!

4. Go on a shape rescue mission! What shapes can you find and rescue around the house? Rescue and collect at least four different shapes (e.g., circle, triangle, rectangle, square) — practice identifying the shapes by their names and describing their attributes. Ask your child, “How are the shapes alike and different? What shapes are curvy? What shapes have straight lines? Do all shapes have corners?”

Keep the Conversation Going

• Learn how to playfully teach your child about shapes at home in this Family Math video.
• Watch this fun video clip from “Peg + Cat” to learn about 2D shapes such as circles, triangles and squares.
• Help Peg find all the shapes in this printable activity from PBS KIDS.
• Go on a shape hunt and make a collage art piece!

Book Suggestion

“Bear in a Square/Oso en un cuadrado” (Ages 2-6), written by Stella Blackstone and illustrated by Debbie Harter
Explore with our friend bear all the shapes he can find in English and Spanish!

Corresponding Standards

Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework

• Geometry and Spatial Sense
  
  • Goal P-MATH 9. Child identifies, describes, compares, and composes shapes.

California Preschool Learning Foundations

• Algebra and Functions
  
  • 1.1 Identify, describe, and construct a variety of different shapes, including variations of a circle, triangle, rectangle, square, and other shapes.

Common Core Math Kindergarten

• Geometry
  
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.G.B.5 Analyze, compare, create, and compose shapes.