One of our favorite school tools is our pattern blocks. What an amazingly versatile tool!
Pattern blocks help kiddos to:
~ build visual-spatial skills
~ increase pattern recognition
~ practice shape recognition
~ visualize how shapes work together to create new shapes
~ master color recognition
~ learn beginning math concepts
~ practice creativity
You can buy them in various forms (plastic, wood, foam, magnets) or print them out on cardstock and make a set of your own.
The standard selection in a set is as follows:
green triangles
orange squares
red trapezoids
blue rhombuses (or rhombi)
tan parallelograms
yellow hexagons
How we use them:
The most common way to use them, and how they got their name, is to create patterns with the shapes. Since most sets use the standard color/shape combinations, you can find MANY free pattern printables on the net.
Here is a good place to start:
Confessions of a Homeschooler (pictured above)
Once your kiddo has mastered basic patterning, they can move onto cooler things... animals, flowers, rockets... you know, REAL pictures! :)
For my 8-year-old, I wanted to add a challenge. I had her design her own animal/plant/object and then fill out this response sheet. This had her reverse the process and use more of her critical thinking skills.
Other ways to use pattern blocks:
From SpellOutloud:
"Have children sort the blocks by shape. I folded a piece of paper and then traced a shape in each section. When sorting make sure to say the shape names (green triangles, orange squares, red trapezoids, blue rhombuses (or rhombi), tan parallelograms and yellow octagons.) Don't expect young children to know these names, but rather work on introducing the terminology to them."
From SpellOutload:
"Create color mats that match the pattern block colors. These can easily be made with pieces of fun foam or construction paper. Have the children sort the blocks by color. You don't have to do a color sort of all the colors at once. In fact, for very young children just starting this skill, having around three options for sorting is better."
Just stacking them is a great way to let your little ones explore shapes, colors, cause-and-effect and spacial relations (tall/short, top/bottom). Those these concepts are simple, even our older ones need reminded of these skills while covering vocabulary and patterning.
