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
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