Pattern Blocks!
Continuing with posts about manipulative materials in geometry, today i show you... the Pattern Blocks!
It is about flat chips, which are usually made of plastic or wood. They have the shape of different polygons, each one of a different color:
- An equilateral triangle (green)
- Rhombus (blue)
- Trapeze (red)
- Hexagon (yellow)
- Square (orange)
- Narrow rhombus (beige / white)
All the figures have their sides of the same length, except for the long side of the trapezoid that measures double. This allows them to combine with each other in many ways without leaving gaps in between.
How to use it?
The first thing that can be done with Pattern Blocks is to play with them to make all kinds of drawings. With a little of imagination, you can do almost anything.
If you don´t know what drawing you can do, you can download templates with real- sizes models. One advantage of using templates with real-size pieces is that the younger children can go looking for the pieces and placing them just above the outline, as if it were a puzzle. By that way, children learn to distinguish different geometric shapes.
When children are older, they do not need to have the guide below where to put each piece. They prefer to copy the models seeing the image.
The Pattern Blocks also serve to work the series and logical patterns.
To work the symmetry on an axis, you can create half drawing and invite the children to complete the missing half.
Manipulating the Pattern Blocks we can introduce the concept of equivalence of areas in a practical and experiential way.
There are multiple relationships between the pieces of the Pattern Blocks. For example, with 3 green triangles you can build a red trapezoid... How many triangles do you need to build a trapeze? And a hexagon? How many diamonds are needed to form 2 hexagons?
As you can see, you can work several things using this fantastic material!! I will add them to my Maths wishlist! and you?
