Repeating Patterns: Set One

       Very young children can make the process of identifying and copying patterns a kind of game. These playful routines are excellent for teaching pre-math and pre-reading skills to children ranging from age 3 to seven.

       Below is my simplest collection, using only two repeating shapes, in limited colors: blue, red, orange, green, white and yellow.

       If you are working with more than one child, you may wish to click directly on images to get them to focus on one pattern at a time. Watch your small group until every student has preformed the task satisfactorily and then move on to the next pattern.

Repeating Patterns: Set Three

       These repeating patterns combine multiple tiles to suggest more complicated designs that require coordinated placements.

Answers for the geometric puzzle shapes...

       Above are the answers for the puzzle challenges located here.

Make geometric, puzzle shapes using pattern blocks...

       This game is a little bit more difficult than the last. Have an adult read the directions aloud or if you can read, read them to yourself and follow the instructions. 

       Then, select tiles that are the same as those shown in each photograph and by manipulating their color, number and placement you can make more difficult shapes. 

       To concentrate on only one photograph at a time, simple click directly on each image to see that selection with a black background.

Puzzle One.

Using six trapezoids and one hexagon, shape a much larger hexagon.

Puzzle Two.

Form a large blue star shape using six smaller rhombuses/diamond tiles.

Puzzle Three.

Assemble three trapezoids, five triangles and
one rhombus to make a larger triangle.

Puzzle Four.

Make a large green triangle from nine smaller green triangles.

 

Puzzle Five.

Make a large triangle using three small triangles
 and six, blue rhombuses.

Puzzle Six.

Assemble a twelve pointed star using
twelve white rhombuses.

 Puzzle Seven.

Use one yellow hexagon, one red trapezoid, three green triangles,
and two blue rhombuses to make one large triangle.

 

Puzzle Eight.

Assemble a large hexagon using six small triangles.

 Puzzle Nine.

Use three red trapezoids, three green triangles and
two blue rhombuses to make a large triangle.

Puzzle Ten.

Shape the center of a larger hexagon using three blue rhombuses
and the outer sides of this hexagon with red trapezoids.

Puzzle Eleven.

Use a rhombus, a triangle and a trapezoid to make the center
of a flower including six, yellow hexagon petals.

Puzzle Twelve.

Use the shapes above: two trapezoids, two triangles and
two rhombuses to make one large trapezoid.

Answers for simple shapes made from pattern blocks

Check the corresponding numbers to see the problems and 

match the numbers above for answers to those problems.

Make larger shapes from smaller pattern blocks...

       Here is a simple game for you to play with your Pattern blocks. Select tiles that are the same as those shown in each photograph. Then have an adult read the directions aloud or if you can read, read them to yourself and follow the instructions.
       To concentrate on only one photograph at a time, simple click directly on each image and students may view that selection with a black background.

1. Make one larger square from four small square tiles.

2. Make a trapezoid using two green triangles
and one yellow hexagon.

3. Using three green triangles and one yellow
hexagon, make one large triangle.

4. Shape a larger green rhombus using two
 smaller green triangles.

5. Make one large trapezoid with one green
triangle and one blue rhombus.

6. Shape a larger orange rectangle by putting
two smaller orange squares together.

7. Using four blue rhombuses, make one large rhombus.

8. Use four small, green triangles to make
one larger, green triangle.

9. Use two rhombuses/diamonds and two
small triangles to make one large hexagon.

10. Use a trapezoid plus one triangle in
order to shape a larger triangle.

11. Make one large trapezoid using three smaller triangles.

12. Make one larger rhombus from four
smaller white rhombuses.

13. Use two small, red trapezoids to make
one larger red hexagon.

Crafty Math Index

Pictures of artifacts in my Math Collection Below.

        Mathematics, a general term for a number of branches of learning that deal with magnitudes, numbers and quantities and their relations. In the primary grades small pupils learning the elementary facts of arithmetic are studying mathematics, just as truly as the college student who solves intricate problems in trigonometry and calculus. Between primary and college mathematics there are many other mathematical subjects of varying grades of difficulty.

• Ed Emberley's Children's Books
• 100 Creative Ways to Teach Numbers and Math Skills
• Does your young student know how to arrange objects according to size? 
• Counting Monsters for Fun!

Dot Painting Activities:

• Paint Fall Foliage with Hugs & Kisses

Cut and Paste Shape (Geometry) Designs:

1.  Intro to: Trace, Cut and Paste Developmental Learning Activities
2.  Craft a Paper Scarecrow Jumping-Jack
   

Number Book Ideas and Patterns: For many years teachers have helped literally hundreds of thousands of young students craft their very own little number scrap books! I will include my templates here to add to the constant flow of imagination that accumulates in the files of educators who work in public/private preschools, kindergartens and elementary schools. Fill my little number books up with photographs, recipes, poems, and drawings to your heart's delight!

• Pumpkin and Jack-O-Lantern Number Books

Using Basic Shapes/Blocks To Teach Math, Spacial Relationships, Problem Solving and Number Sense:

• The Means & Ways of Occupation In The Kindergarten by Froebel
• Working With Pattern Blocks - patterns, questions, processes  
• Block Play into Learning
• Arranging Popsicle Stick Patterns (coming soon)
  
• Early Building & Spelling With Alphabet Blocks
• Use a Light Table to Teach About Colors and Shapes
• Give An Old Set of Blocks a New Life
• Update a Classic Pull-Cart With Chalkboard Paint

Using Basic Shapes (Geometry) to Teach Drawing:

• How To Draw: A Cow
• How To Draw: The Head of A Horse 
• How To Draw: A Pelican 
• Draw Fun Valentine Cartoons! 
• Draw old-fashioned dolls, step-by-step

Tangram Articles & Activities:

• What Are Tangrams? and Tangram Stencil
• Tangram Cats

Lots of Play-Doh, playdough, clay play mat patterns:

• Play-Doh Mats for Early Learners: history of Play Doh, playdough mats for free links, teddy bear number mats illustrated

Learn to Color Your Numbers:

• Ten Silly Number Pages for Coloring or Mini Books
• Color By Number Coloring Pages Index at Crayon Palace 

More Hands-On Math Exercises:

• Printable Clock Face with Hands
• Apple Math Game for Bulletin Boards 
  

Christmas tree with a star pattern block design

"a festive Christmas tree" Click directly
 on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this figurative Christmas design:

1. You will need seventeen rhombuses to complete this design how many of them will be blue?
2. How many triangles will it take to turn your Christmas tree's stand green instead of red?
3. How many trapezoids could be used to replace the green triangles inside the branches?
4. Copy the Christmas tree and stand above in your own work space. Give your tree a blue star only.
   

Poinsettia in a planter pattern block design

"a planter full of poinsettia" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this figurative, festive design:

1. Count the number of trapezoids it will take for you to assemble a duplicate design.
2. How many rhombuses will it take to turn the stems of these poinsettia blue instead of green?
3. Put together a similar potted poinsettia including only one blossom.
   

Christmas wreath pattern block design

"a Christmas wreath" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this figurative holiday design:

1. How many triangles will it take to copy this wreath design and eliminate the red bow altogether?
2. How could you assemble a similar wreath by moving the red bow to the top of it's display instead of the bottom? Show this design on top of your desk or table.