Thursday, January 25, 2018

poinsettia in a planter...

"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...

"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.

Saint Nicholas...

"Saint Nicholas" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this inspirational figurative design:
  1. How many rhombus tiles were used to form this old Saint's beard?
  2. How many rhombus tiles were used to suggest his fur lined coat?
  3. In total, how many trapezoids does it take to put his costume together?
  4. Now shape your own Saint Nicholas figure on top of your work space.

water lily...

"water lily" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this figurative garden design:
  1. How many hexagons form the flower petals of this water lily?
  2. How many triangles form the stem?
  3. Count the number of rhombuses used to keep this water lily floating.
  4. How many rhombuses are used to pollinate this tile plant?
  5. Copy the water lily above on top of your desk using twenty-three triangles, eliminating the hexagons. Hint - your water lily should turn green.

a stocking for Christmas...

"Christmas stocking" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this Christmas figurative design:
  1. How many different shapes can you spy inside this stocking design?
  2. Where is the hexagon?
  3. Assemble a toy that you would like to find stuffed inside your own Christmas stocking.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

baby Jesus...

"baby Jesus" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this Christian figurative design:
  1. How many rhombuses are used above to suggest a star hanging in the night sky?
  2. What kind of shape is used to symbolize the baby's head?
  3. How many trapezoids are used to suggest the manger and the baby's blanket?
  4. Now copy the same image above using your own Pattern Blocks.

small fir tree...

"a small simple Christmas tree or fir tree" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this holiday figurative design:
  1. Count 17 triangles present in this simple Christmas tree.
  2. Make your own version of this Christmas design by adding an extra row of nine green tiles.
  3. How many six-sided shapes are formed inside this little tree?
  4. Can you remove seven triangles from this tree but still make the design look like a tree of the same size?

super hero shield...

"a super hero shield" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this heroic figurative design:
  1. How many squares are configured inside this design?
  2. Count and the number of rhombuses shaped by the tiles in this design.
  3. Can you create a similar shield by changing the blue tiles to green?

flower garden...

"flower garden" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.

Questions/Activities for this floral figurative design:
  1. Find all 32 triangles shaped by the tiles in this design!
  2. Can you trace the outlines of star shapes in this garden picture?
  3. Now assemble your own flower garden repeating only one of the flowers above. Then add two different flower patterns that you have made up yourself.

a soccer ball...

"a soccer ball" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this sporty figurative design:
  1. How would you make this soccer ball using blue and green tiles?
  2. Find four Hexagon shapes in this design.
  3. Can you use your own tiles to shape a hockey stick? or a skate board?

a praying angel...

"a praying angel" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this inspirational figurative design:
  1. Find the two blue stars in the angel's gown.
  2. How many rhombuses did it take to shape this angel?
  3. How many rhombuses where used to assemble this angel's halo?
  4. Count the triangles shapes implied by the tiles.
  5. Now shape an angel using green triangle tiles for the gown.

two kissing fish...

"two kissing fish" Click directly on the image to enlarge it.
Questions/Activities for this fishy figurative design:
  1. How many narrow rhombus are in this design?
  2. Can you trace the hexagon shape with your finger?
  3. Now you can assemble your own set of fish and include some sea weed beneath them as well.