When we first started homeschooling over eleven years ago, one of my first purchases was a set of pattern blocks. Even though it was purchased retail at a specialty store (read: it was overpriced), I’ve counted it as one of the best purchases for the kids that I ever made.
When our oldest was about 8, pattern blocks became a regular activity in our home, as every Friday evening the kids would sit together on the floor, making independent patterns and designs. I love how pattern blocks can be used in sophisticated and simple ways, for designs that adults have fun with, or something even a two year old likes.
Not only are they great for making designs with, but they’re also a super math manipulative. A couple of days ago I was using them with ds9 to explain some fraction concepts – demonstrating math concepts to kids using hands on manipulatives greatly enhances their understanding of numbers, so that math doesn’t remain abstract and theoretical.
We’ve had a long stretch, though, that the pattern blocks have been sitting on the shelf, rarely used for spontaneous fun. The middles need the reminder that they’re there, and the littles are so young that they need guidance when using pattern blocks, which means me sitting down with them and showing them how to play with them. So that’s what I did.
I have a book of patterns for pattern blocks, but thought to reintroduce the blocks as something new and fun, and to expand on what we currently have, by accessing the internet. This week I pulled up some pattern block designs online, slanted the laptop screen towards where the kids were sitting, and ds5 and ds4 (with my help) copied one pattern after another. I let the kids choose what patterns they were interested in doing. (Ds2.5 did his own thing, stacking all the similar shaped blocks and proudly showing me what he made. :)) Here’s a link I found that had samples of pattern block patterns – you can do what I did by looking at it online while playing, or print them out, laminate them, and keep them to use repeatedly.
Don’t have any pattern blocks? Don’t despair – make your own! Here’s a link to a site where you can print out the block patterns onto colored cardstock, then cut them out. It’s not the same as using wooden blocks, but you can still enjoy fun and learning!
Avivah
Hmm, maybe that’s what my kids should get for Chanuka this year with their gelt…I want one thing that is age appropriate for several of them, and this looks like it will work. Since they combine their gelt for one sharing toy if we go this route, we can probably get the “real” thing, and perhaps a bigger set for less if we get used (ebay ;)). My 4.5 year old LOVES doing Tangoes which is also making things from shapes (we have a small travel set), my 6 year old is at the age where he loves figuring out math things, and my 3 year old likes making random designs with the Tango shapes, so I think she’d go for this too 🙂 Thanks for the idea of a good, fun, educational toy…and like most of them, it’s Shabbos friendly 😀
If your kids like Tangoes, they’ll love pattern blocks! (We have lots of tangrams, and brought the small travel set of Tangoes on the flight with us. :))
You can buy these at a very reasonable price at Rainbow Resource – http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?q=pattern+blocks (you can also order their massive and extremely informative catalog for free). They have tons of educational games and they’re prices are the best that I’ve seen, retail. (11 years ago, I paid $25 for a set of 250 wood blocks, and they have it for under $14. I eventually got a second set from RR so there would be plenty when all of the kids were playing together.)
Thanks!
Is 250 a reasonable size for a few kids to share? Or should I get closer to 500?
I think 250 is enough to start out with, but once you’re already ordering, it’s worth getting 500.