BACKGROUND:
Basic shapes like circles,
diamonds, squares, and triangles can make interesting and complex shapes.
Learning how to make a pattern from these basic shapes helps a child develop
skills in logic, color, shape perception, size and quantity relationships,
laws of prediction, and manual dexterity.
PROCEDURE:
- Students should
cut out the pattern on the worksheet along the black lines(or have
them precut). Ask students to create different patterns with
the pieces. Show them the different animals that they can create
below including a swan, bird, bear, fish, rabbit, and an eagle.
- You can purchase
other tangram sets. These puzzles challenge the child to experiment
or logically determining what shapes are required to create new patterns
using two dimensional blocks.
- Next show students three-dimensional
blocks. A cube is a three dimensional square. A column or pillar
is a three-dimensional rectangle. A pyramid is a three-dimensional
triangle. A sphere is a three-dimensional circle. If you have
other shapes, discuss them with students.
- After your students
have learned the different shapes, explain that these shapes are
mathematical representations of the real world. Go around the room
and see if students can identify different shapes. The important
lesson is to recognize that shapes in real life are not as perfect as shapes
that are made or drawn.
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