Above are traditional wooden versions of Pattern Blocks. There are educational, toy companies that now manufacture
Pattern Blocks in plastic. If you can not afford either of these, you may cut out your own templates from paper.
Pattern Blocks are one of the mathematical manipulatives developed in the 1960s by an Education Development Center as part of their Elementary Science Study project. They allow children to see how shapes can be decomposed into other shapes, and introduce children to ideas of tilings.
The Pattern Blocks includes multiple copies of six shapes in the following colors:
Equilateral triangles aregreen. In geometry, an equilateral triangle is a triangle in which all three sides are equal. In the familiar Euclidean geometry, equilateral triangles are also equiangular; that is, all three internal angles are also congruent to each other and are each 60°. They are regular polygons, and can therefore also be referred to as regular triangles.
Rhombus tiles that can be matched with two of the green triangles areblue. In Euclidean geometry, a rhombus(◊) (plural rhombi or rhombuses) is a simple (non-self-intersecting) quadrilateral whose four sides all have the same length. Another name is equilateral quadrilateral, since equilateral means that all of its sides are equal in length. The rhombus is often called a diamond, after the diamonds suit in playing cards which resembles the projection of an octahedral diamond, or a lozenge, though the former sometimes refers specifically to a rhombus with a 60° angle (see Polyiamond), and the latter sometimes refers specifically to a rhombus with a 45° angle. Every rhombus is a parallelogram and a kite. A rhombus with right angles is a square.
Trapezoid that can be matched with three of the green triangles arered. In Euclidean geometry, a convex quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides is referred to as a trapezoid (/ˈtræpəzɔɪd/) in American and Canadian English but as a trapezium (/trəˈpiːziəm/) in English outside North America. The parallel sides are called the bases of the trapezoid and the other two sides are called the legs or the lateral sides (if they are not parallel; otherwise there are two pairs of bases).
Hexagon that can be matched with six of the green triangles areyellow. In geometry, a hexagon (from Greek ἕξ hex, "six" and γωνία, gonía, "corner, angle") is a six sided polygon or 6-gon. The total of the internal angles of any hexagon is 720°
Squares with the same side-length as the green triangle areorange. In geometry, a square is a regular quadrilateral, which means that it has four equal sides and four equal angles (90-degree angles, or (100-gradian angles or right angles). It can also be defined as a rectangle in which two adjacent sides have equal length.
Narrow rhombus with a 30° angle and the same side-length as the green triangle arewhite or beige.
My patterns come with both questions and activities so that classroom teachers or homeschooling parents may use either a lap top or a desk-top computer center for creating interactive learning experiences for students reading this blog in specific:
Set up a learning center using a computer, laptop or tablet with access to https://thriftyscissors.blogspot.com pages only. The content must not be transferred to an alternative web location.
Provide a couple of sets of Pattern Blocks for each work space and paper with writing tools as well.
Pick and choose the questions or actions that you want your students to answer or manipulate according to their age/abilities.
To enlarge the images, simple click on the image and you will be able to see a larger version on a dark background.
If your students can not yet read, simply have them configure the same design in front of themselves with Pattern Blocks on a table or desk. Students can do this activity by themselves or in a group at a large table. This activity helps develop Pre-Math Skills: problem solving, patterning, estimation, sense of space, representation (symbolism) and number sense.
The photographs located here are
the copyrighted property of kathy grimm. Do not upload them onto your
personal blogs or webpages for this reason. Give a link to the
collection only, if you are referencing the collection.
Also, do not alter the photographs in any way. Altering photos from
this web journal will get you into a heap of trouble with the law. These
photos are not included here for the purpose of creating a
new collection or a duplicate one on an alternative web site. Copyrighted
works must be altered in such a way as to render them "unrecognizable
content" in order for the material to be reproduced without censure. In
other words, you must make your own unique content from the very beginning, in
order to keep copyright law.
Educators, parents, and social workers from any country may use the
photographs for hard copy within the context of a classroom environment
only. The photographs should never be reproduced for sale. I have not
authorized any person to charge money for profits from these
photographs. They are intended for children to learn from freely but not for republishing on third party websites or printing out to sell for monetary gain!
Almighty God, Maker of the heavens and the earth, King of kings, Lord of lords. Creator of all men, and Father of all spirits:
We worship Thee this day as the source of all our benefits and blessings. We thank Thee for our conscious lives, for our republic, for our homes, which are the foundations of the republic; for our churches and our schools, and for all the moral forces which have shaped the nation of which we are a part.
We thank Thee for the literature, the just laws, the sciences, the liberal benefactions, the mutual human trust, and the generous impulses which procure and preserve amity and peace among civilized peoples.
We thank Thee for the manliness, courage, devotion, and conscientious convictions which made possible our brave men and heroic women in the years when armies took the field against us, and dared to assail that for which our forefathers suffered and died.
We thank Thee for our noble mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters, and for their undying patriotism and love manifested when they sadly but gladly permitted their fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons to leave their dear ones to the care of God and risk their all upon the field of battle.
While we are assembled here today, may God make vivid, emphasize, and impress upon this great congregation a sense of the priceless value of all that for which women have suffered at home, and of that for which men were willing to yield all save their sacred honor.
Pardon all our sins; remit the guilt of that in our national laws or habits or indulgences for which we may have become responsible through our ignorance or by our indifference to the bounden duties
of citzinship.
Revive within us a just appreciation of all that which by Thy blessing has preserved the nation until this day. Re-awaken us to the conditions upon which God will alone continue our national life. We pray Thee to increase the number of our honest. God-fearing office-bearers, and to graciously rebuke and remove from power all those who have abused their sacred trusts.
Grant Thy special blessings upon the family whose heroic husband and father is named by every voice in the nation today. May our grateful memories rival even this bronze in commemorating heroic
and patriotic deeds. We pray Thee to stimulate our gratitude toward all those who fought for the republic, and to quicken the spirit of genuine patriotism in every American heart.
Impress each one of us with the sense of personal responsibility for our homes, for our nation, and for the continued existence of Christian civilization upon the earth.
Help us to serve Thee by serving our fellowmen, and in the end bring us to the better kingdom above through Him who hath loved us and gave Himself for us. Amen. Delivered at the unveiling of the Logan Statue, by Rev. Arthur Edwards.
Be proud! for she is saved, and all have helped to save her!
She that lifts up the manhood of the poor,
She of the open soul and open door.
With room about her hearth for all mankind!
What were our lives without thee?
What all our lives to save thee?
We reck not what we gave thee;
We will not dare to doubt thee.
But ask whatever else, and we will dare!
O, Scotia! my dear, my native soil!
For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent!
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil
Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!
And, O, may Heaven their simple lives prevent
From luxury's contagion, weak and vile;
Then, howe'er crowns and coronets be rent,
A virtuous populace may rise the while.
And stand ' a wall of fire around their much-lov'd isle.
O Thou! who pour'd the patriotic tide
That stream'd thro' Wallace's undaunted heart;
Who dar'd to, nobly, stem tyrannic pride.
Or nobly die, the second glorious part,
(The patriot's God, peculiarly thou art.
His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward!)
O never, never, Scotia's realm desert.
But still the patriot, and the patriot-bard,
In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard!
God of our fathers, known of old -
Lord of our far-flung battle-line -
Beneath Whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine -
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
The tumult and the shouting dies -
The captains and the kings depart -
Still stands Thine ancient Sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet.
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
Far-called our navies melt away -
On dune and headland sinks the fire -
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet.
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe -
Such boasting as the Gentiles use
Or lesser breeds without the Law -
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet.
Lest we forget - lest we forget!
For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard -
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding calls not Thee to guard -
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy Mercy on Thy People, Lord! Amen.
Though not necessarily involving much expense, a children's party or
picnic calls for more careful planning and diplomacy than is demanded in
the case of a similar function for the grown-ups. And of course, every
child should bring their favorite doll to such an occasion as well.
These kinds of social events are perfectly suited to the instruction of
young children in role play.
So what shall we do with the brave little men and dear little maids who
have arrived at the appointed hour? I will include a variety of
articles here in the near future intended to encourage parents and
teachers whose pleasure it is to include theatrical environments and
games in their child/student's parties and picnics.
A table set for a child's party 100 years ago.
We think nothing of systematic and elaborate preparations for our
grown-up parties, and we should certainly take no less thought or time
where the children are concerned, when planning a party in advance. When
making out lists, keep a carefully thought out program of games that
will be interesting and appropriate to the ages and the number of
children invited to your party.
Properties, favors, and prizes should be systematically arranged
beforehand, and stowed away out of sight, but easily accessible at the
proper moment. The little host or hostess should be inspired to show an
unselfish interest in the happiness of his or her little friends, and
should receive them with the grown-up hostess.
When the
party day has arrived, and with it the children, there should be polite
and cheerful greetings, and the tiny guests should settle themselves
comfortably or uncomfortably, according to the nature of each. Then is
the moment for the pianist to take her place and with lively airs charm
away all constraint until enough children have arrived to begin playing a
game. Six to eight is a good number, and if the hostess has an
assistant this will be her opportunity to start the children playing.
Ring games. Air Ball, or character games are suitable ones with which to
begin, as the newcomers can enter into the frolic without disturbing
the others. Music, wherever it can come in naturally, lends spirit and
dash to the games.
From drawing-room to library or nursery often makes an excellent
change, especially where some paraphernalia is required and has to be
prepared beforehand.
There is usually a shy little girl or boy who hesitates to enter the
game. By degrees the strangeness wears off ; self has been forgotten in
the spirit of the play, and it is quite an easy step to draw the child
into the game by tossing the ball or bean-bag temptingly near, or with
an apparently careless word or question. Character parties are
especially helpful in taking away self-consciousness. Playing "pretend "
has in itself a fascination that few children can resist, and when a
little girl finds herself actually a Queen of the Fairies by right of
crown, wand, and wings, she assumes the manners and privileges of her
station without an effort. A boy whose name has suddenly changed to Jack
the Giant-killer will soon forget his troublesome hands and feet in his
exalted position ; and he has scant notice for those who address him by
the uninteresting name of Bobby. That name belongs back in the other
world of kilts and curls for which he has no use at the present moment.
The properties for these character parties are easily fashioned, and are
sure to be a delight to the children who receive them.
Story-telling should come after a romp. It is the prettiest moment of
the party, when the children, with flushed faces, settle themselves in a
group on the floor, and relax to the ever magic words of " Once upon a
time‚" Interest is added if at an unexpected moment a child is called
upon to tell what he supposes " happened then." Should his idea be a
good one, as is almost certain to be the case, his suggestion can be
taken for the cue, and the story continued, when another child may be
called upon for a suggestion.
Prizes and favors play an important part in the games, but should be
made appropriate rather than elaborate. The child who wears around his
neck a ribbon to which is attached a tiny bell is justly proud of his
tinkling favor. It is to be won by rolling a ball so straight that the
large dinner-bell, suspended from the chandelier and just above the
floor, rings loud and true. And the boy or girl who pierces the center
of the red-heart target, on St. Valentine's day, will appreciate the
gift of the bow and arrow which helped to win the victory.
That each may carry home some souvenir, a bon-bon favor should be found
at each place on the supper-table ; and it will gladden the hearts of
those who were not successful in winning prizes in the games.
Let the menu be simple, that the joy of the occasion may not be marred later with misery and mustard plasters.
The gift surprise is the last joy of all. A rose tree, gift ball, or
one of the many new and charming devices for hiding a toy or game, which
originated in the old-fashioned but ever popular Jack Horner pie, is
the most suitable ending to a successful party.
The watchful hostess need not plan for after-supper games. The pleasure
in the gifts, and the comparing of trinkets and toys with one another,
will fill up the time until the "good-byes" and "I've had a lovely time"
are said. by Mary White.
Design a storybook Mother Goose Party. The table is decorated with paper cups, paper plates
and a frosted delectable cake all in soft pastel shades of every color in the rainbow.
Buff pink carnations, satin ribbons and helium filled balloons add polish and extra interest
to the room. This playful party arrangement was first designed by Willie Mae Rogers and
Dorothy B. Marsh.
Balloons to Invite Them. Such fun for tiny misses aged four years and up! For each invitation, blow up 3 pastel-colored balloons. With India ink and paintbrush, print the party details on the balloons as shown on page 80. Let the balloons dry thoroughly; then deflate them. Tuck them in an envelope, and mail to the guest. What little girl could resist?
Mother Goose Land. Rainbow chains: They're so pretty draped in the windows and doorway of the party room, with clusters of balloons added to complete the fairyland setting! And they're so easy to make, the young hostess may wish to do them all herself before the party. Cut pastel construction paper into 6″ x strips. Staple the ends of the first strip together to form a circle. Put the second strip through the first circle; staple; continue until you have a chain of 3′ or more.
Little Miss Muffet's Table. It's pink! Use a round 45″ table or a card table with folding tabletop over it to increase its size. Cover the table with a round pink cloth. At each place, arrange pastel colored paper plate, cup. and napkin—all green, all pink, all blue, all yellow, or other color—with white plastic fork and spoon.
Balloon place cards: Attach a balloon with ribbon to each child's chair back. (If balloons are filled with helium gas, they will float.) Then, with India ink and paintbrush, write on the balloon the name of the little girl who is to sit there.
Rainbow surprise balls: On each plate at the table, place a Rainbow Surprise Ball to be opened after refreshments. You'll need: 15 or more tiny items dear to each little girl's heart, such as an odd-shaped balloon, powder puff, piece of doll furniture, waterflowers, piece of wrapped candy, bottle of perfume, ball and jacks, magnet, tiny animal figure, etc. Also folds of crepe paper, in several colors that match your party color scheme; cut these, without unfolding, into 1 inch wide strips. To make each: Starting with a small wad of crepe-paper strips, wrap up the first favor, stretching the strips and turning the ball round and round as you wrap. When the first favor is completely covered, add another favor and continue wrapping, using strips of different colors as you work. When completed, each surprise ball will be the same size.
Butterfly favors: One of these goes on each little guest's napkin; it has a bobby-pin back, so it can be worn in the hair. Lay a cardboard pattern of a butterfly on a double thickness of coarse crinoline. Trace around the pattern; then cut. With bright-colored poster paint, paint the butterfly; let it dry. Fold a colored pipe cleaner in half to resemble feelers. Insert it between the two thicknesses of crinoline. To form the body of the butterfly, with darning wool, stitch through the crinoline and over the feelers, going the full length of the butterfly. Next glue front and back pieces of crinoline together. Then paste on a few sequins, polka-dot-fashion; or dot butterfly wings with glue and top with glitter.
Old-woman-in-a-shoe cake centerpiece: It's an enchanting cake! All details are given below.
Mother Goose Party Games.
China dog and calico cat: This is noisy fun for early in the party. Mother collects the candy kisses and keeps score. Props: 1 paper bag marked "Kittens"; 1 paper bag marked "Doggies"; 25 or 30 candy kisses (hidden before the party). Action: Children are divided into 2 teams: China Doggies and Calico Kittens‚ with a bag for each team. At the signal, all start hunting for kisses. When one tiny miss finds n kiss, she mews or barks until Mother gets to her, picks up the kiss (children mustn't pick up the kisses themselves), and drops it into her team's paper bag. At the end of 10 minutes, the kisses are counted. Each member of the team with the most kisses selects a prize from the table. Then the remaining children each collect a prize. They can't lose!
Mother goose playhouse: Have all the children recite or sing nursery rhymes, acting them out at the same time. For instance: Jack and Jill went up the hill (point finger upwards), To fetch a pail of water (pick up imaginary pail); Jack fell down (all fall down) and broke his crown (pat top of head ) And Jill came tumbling after (with hands, make tumbling motion).
Put-the-candles-on-the-cake: (a new version of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey) Props: A large piece of white paper on which a birthday cake is drawn (to be tacked up before the game); a different colored crayon for each child; a blindfold. Action: Each child is blindfolded and asked to draw, with her crayon, 3 candles on the cake. The child who puts candles in the most appropriate place is the winner.
Mother goose quiz: Children as well as adults love a quiz. Props: A good supply of questions. Action: The children are again divided into 2 teams: Kittens and Doggies. Teams sit. facing each other. Mother asks a question first of one side and then of the other. Sample questions might be: Where did Jack Horner sit? What did Little Miss Muffet sit on? Where did Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater put his wife? How many fiddlers did Old King Cole have? Who put the kettle on? What ran up the clock?
More little folks' games: Play each of the following games for just 5 minutes; then the children won't tire so easily.
For each sandwich, prepare a stuffed egg; put halves together.
Using white bread with crusts removed, make a 3-decker sandwich, with peanut butter, deviled ham, and apricot jam as fillings.
Cut sandwich in half. Place halves, end to end. on paper plate; top with Humpty Dumpty (the stuffed egg), using plastic straws to skewer him in place. Use 2 thin carrot sticks for legs, letting them extend over edge of sandwich.
Now mix together red. blue, and yellow food colors to achieve a brown shade. With a new paintbrush, draw features on Humpty.
Old-Woman-in-a-Shoe Cake
Ingredients:
2 pkg. yellow cake mix.
Party Cream (page 185) 1 pkg. fluffy white frosting mix.
Licorice candy.
Red cinnamon candy.
2 or more pkg. thin 1" candy wafers.
Directions: The Cake Foundation: Bake cakes a day or so ahead: store, covered. Or bake them several days or weeks ahead; freezer-wrap; freeze. To make and bake cakes, proceed as follows:
Start heating oven to 350" F. Grease well 10" x 5" x 3" loaf pan.
Prepare 1 pkg. cake mix as label directs; turn into loaf pan. Bake about 55 min., or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool cake in pan on rack 10 min.; remove from pan; cool on rack.
Make second cake loaf same way.
Shaping the Shoe Cake: The evening before the party, put cake together and decorate as below; then refrigerate or freeze overnight.
Cut piece of heavy cardboard into 8-1/2" x 4-1/2" oblong; round off all 4 corners; cover with aluminum foil.
From end of 1 loaf cake, cut 6" piece; reserve both pieces.
From other loaf cake, cut off both ends to make loaf 7" long.
For toe part of shoe: With small mound of Party Cream, glue 6" cake piece, with its cut side facing in, to one end of cardboard.
For leg part of shoe: Glue 7" cake piece, standing up, with rounded side facing out, to other end of cardboard, so it's snug against cut side of first piece of cake.
Now, with sharp paring knife, carefully round off and trim corners and edges of cake to resemble shoe.
To prepare for peaked roof: On each side of 7" leg, 1" down from top, make upward cut to center top of cake; remove these 2 pieces of cake.
For peaked roof: From reserved cake pieces, cut 2-1/2"-thick slices; trim each to 3-1/2" x 3-1/4". Glue each slice to one slant of leg so they meet in center. Hold slices in place with 2 pieces of plastic straw or with toothpicks.
Frosting Top and Sides of Shoe Cake:
Now make up fluffy white frosting mix as label directs; tint pink with red food color; spread thin over entire shoe, to set crumbs.
Then generously frost shoe with rest of pink frosting, building up shape of shoe over instep and at toe.
Cut 9 strips of licorice, each 1-1/2" x 1/4"; use to make lacings. Use red cinnamon candies for holes. Cut 2 strips of licorice, each 3" x 1/4", for ends of shoelaces. Place on cake as shown.
To make shingles on roof: Starting at bottom of roof on each side, overlap candy wafers in overlapping rows, alternating colors as shown.
To about cup Party Cream, add 2 tablesp. cocoa; use in cake decorator with ribbon tube to make door, shutters, and sole around shoe.
Using white Party Cream in cake decorator with rosette tube, outline door and windows; then make windowpanes and doorknob.
Arrange short birthday taper candles on ridge of roof.
The Yard for the Shoe Cake: Set shoe cake on white round board or cardboard, with ribbon around edge as shown; then place tiny rubber children here and there in yard.
To cut cake, first slice toe part into 6 to 8 slices. Then cut off rest of cake just below roof (be careful of straws); remove. Slice this part of cake into 6 to 8 slices. Makes 12 to 16 servings.
