Plastic Pattern Blocks

At-Home Activities Math Skills

Plastic Pattern Blocks BUY NOW Guess The Shape! LER 0134 • When we look at shapes, we look at the number and length of the sides and the corners (where two sides meet). Look at the shapes below to answer the following questions:

a. Which shape has 4 sides that are all the same length and 4 corners that are exactly the same size? (answer: orange square) b. Which shape has 3 sides and 3 corners? (answer: green triangle) c. Which shape has 6 sides and 6 corners? (answer: yellow hexagon) d. How many of these shapes have 4 sides? (answer 4: orange square, blue parallelogram, red trapezoid, and tan diamond or rhombus) Patterning • Patterning is a basic math skill that helps children understand a variety of math concepts such as addition, multiplication, and skip counting. Use pattern blocks to set up and complete the following patterns: • AB Pattern:

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• AAB Pattern:

• ABC Pattern:

• This one is a little trickier:

• Try creating your own patterns! Create an AABB pattern. Use as many blocks as you have to continue each pattern. Shapes on Shapes • You can make shapes out of other shapes. Try it yourself! Put 5 yellow hexagons on the table. 1. Use 2 shapes of the same color to completely cover the ﬁrst yellow hexagon. (Answer: 2 red trapezoids) 2. Use 3 shapes of the same color to cover the second hexagon. (Answer: 3 blue diamonds) 3. Use 6 shapes of the same color to cover the third hexagon. (Answer: 6 green triangles) 4. Use 2 blue diamonds and 2 other shapes to cover the fourth hexagon. (Answer: 2 green triangles) 5. Use 1 red trapezoid and 3 other shapes to cover the last hexagon. (Answer: 3 green triangles)

Shapes on Shapes • You can make shapes out of other shapes. Try it yourself! Put 5 yellow hexagons on the table. 1. Use 2 shapes of the same color to completely cover the ﬁrst yellow hexagon. (Answer: 2 red trapezoids) 2. Use 3 shapes of the same color to cover the second hexagon. (Answer: 3 blue diamonds) 3. Use 6 shapes of the same color to cover the third hexagon. (Answer: 6 green triangles) 4. Use 2 blue diamonds and 2 other shapes to cover the fourth hexagon. (Answer: 2 blue diamonds and 2 green triangles) 5. Use 1 red trapezoid and 3 other shapes to cover the last hexagon. (Answer: 1 red trapezoid and 3 green triangles)

You’re A Star! • Can you build this 4 dierent ways? Here are some hints: 1. Use 6 blue diamonds to make this star. 2. Use 1 yellow hexagon and 6 green triangles to make this star. 3. Use 2 red trapezoids and 6 shapes of another color to make this star. (Answer: green triangles) 4. Use 9 shapes to make this star. (Answer: 3 blue blocks and 6 green blocks)

Shape Up Game (2 Or More Players) • Object of the game: make 4 hexagons and win! • Put all the pattern blocks, except the yellow ones, into a bag or box (something you cannot see through). Without looking, player one takes a pattern block from the bag and puts it in front of them on the table. Now it’s the next player’s turn to take a block. Players continue taking turns, trying to build hexagons with their blocks. As you build a hexagon, keep it to the side and work on building the next one. The first player to build 4 hexagons wins! Guess The Shape (1 Or More Players) • Put all the pattern blocks in a bag or box (something you cannot see through). Without looking, pull one pattern block from the bag. Now, try to pull another block of that same shape. If you were correct, keep both blocks. Now it’s the next player’s turn. Continue taking turns, trying to find matches. The first player to collect 10 blocks wins!