Problem:  Can you cover the turtle with exactly 15 pattern blocks?

Math Topic/Concept:  Geometrical shapes

Materials:  Pattern Blocks and Turtle outline

Classroom Use: Developmental

Classroom use comments*:  Students will need some experience with covering shapes and rotating shapes to fit in other configurations.  Turtle shape may not be to scale with your Pattern Blocks.  Some adjustment on the copier may need to be made by the teacher.

Grade:  1

Grade Cluster: Early Elementary

Illinois Goal:  9

Standard:  9 B.1b    9 C.1

Applied? (1-4):  1

Source:  20 Thinking Questions for Pattern Blocks, pages 26-29, 83  Creative Publications, 1995

Answer:  Various

Strategies Listed:  Guess and Check, Use logical reasoning

Solution:  Students need to completely cover the turtle with various shapes.  All the parts need to be filled in without going outside the lines.

Extensions or related problems*:  Have the students make their own animal shapes and then trace around them and share for others to solve.

Intended rubric or assessment method:  Observation

Write-up submitted by:  Cyndi Fisher and Jodi Johnson

Problem:  Use your Pattern Blocks.  Can you find at least 6 different ways to cover an equilateral triangle with 3” sides.  Record each way you find.

Math Topic/Concept:  Equivalent Representations and variance

Materials:  Pattern Blocks,  paper, and pencil.

Classroom Use: Developmental

Classroom use comments*:  Discuss equivalent blocks before doing the activity.  Could be a whole group activity using the overhead.

Grade:  1

Grade Cluster: Early Elementary

Illinois Goal:  9

Standard:  9 B.1b       9 C.1

Applied? (1-4):  Level 1

Source:  20 Thinking Questions for Pattern Blocks, pages 14-17, 82, Creative Publications, 1995

Answer:  6 different configurations

Strategies Listed:  Guess and Check, Logical Reasoning, Use manipulatives

Solution:

Extensions or related problems*:  Limit the types or amounts of Pattern Blocks the students can use to build the triangles.

Intended rubric or assessment method:  Observation

Write-up submitted by:  Jodi Johnson and Cyndi Fisher

Problem:  Look around for something to bring from home that has a pattern.  Here are some places to look for patterns:  Clothing, Wrapping paper, Towels or Book Covers.  Either bring in the object or draw a picture of it showing the pattern.

Math Topic/Concept:  Recognition of numeric or geometrical patterns

Materials:  Varied, Objects from home

Classroom Use: Developmental

Classroom use comments*:  This activity is intended as a homework assignment during the study of patterns in the classroom

Grade:  1

Grade Cluster: Early Elementary

Illinois Goal:  9

Standard:  9.B.1a

Applied? (1-4):  Level 2

Source:  Bigger, Taller, Heavier, Smaller, Investigation 3, Sessions 3, TERC, Dale Seymour Publications, 1998

Answer:  Varied

Strategies Listed:  Logical Reasoning

Solution:  Students must bring in an object or a drawing that reflects a repeated pattern.

Intended rubric or assessment method:  Observation

Write-up submitted by:  Jodi Johnson and Cyndi Fisher

Problem:  How many different ways can you make a square using Pattern Blocks?

Math Topic/Concept:  Geometric Shapes

Materials:  Pattern Blocks

Classroom Use:  Developmental

Classroom use comments*:  You may want to limit the pattern block shapes given to the students at first.  Discuss the properties of a  square and a rectangle.  Compare and contrast the differences.  Could be a whole group activity using the overhead.

Grade:  1

Grade Cluster: Early Elementary

Illinois Goal:  9

Standard:  9 B.1b, 9 C.1

Applied? (1-4):  Level 1

Source:  Cyndi Fisher and Jodi Johnson  Monmouth, IL.

Answer:  Varied

Strategies Listed:  Guess and Check, Logical Reasoning

Solution:  There are many varied answers.  All must look like squares.

Extensions or related problems*:  Students can try to make squares using the 7 Tangram pieces.

Intended rubric or assessment method:  Observation

Write-up submitted by:  Jodi Johnson and Cyndi Fisher

James R. Olsen, Western Illinois University
E-mail: jr-olsen@wiu.edu
updated June 27, 2001