I love pattern blocks! The little wooden ones that you can make pictures with, sort by color and shape, teach patterning, symmetry, fractions and more. In fact, I think with just this one manipulative, I would be able to teach most of the kindergarten and first grade math curriculum. They are versatile, easy to use, take up a small space, and are fun to use! My tot, however, is not quite ready to manipulate these tiny pieces of wood with ease and they won’t help him be active. When I saw this post, I was immediately inspired to create a giant version of pattern blocks that would be affordable, easy to use, and not take up a bunch of space. I’m not sure really how my brain took the concept of sensory steps to giant pattern blocks, but it did. =)
This set was made with craft felt from the bolts at the fabric store. I cut the cost down by using 40% off coupons. The first thing I did was make an equilateral triangle. Using this pattern, I cut green triangles. Then, I put 2 green triangles together to make the pattern for the blue diamond. I put 3 green triangles together to make a pattern for the trapezoid. I put 2 trapezoids together to make the pattern for the yellow hexagon. I then made orange squares.
We spent 2 days just playing with the giant pattern blocks and exploring how they went together. The kids built pictures and flung them around the room in undirected play. In my years of teaching, I have realized that kids must have an opportunity to interact with the materials and explore how they work and move before teacher (or parent) directed instruction can occur effectively.
With my tot – I wanted to start out by using them to teach colors, shapes, and simple patterning through movement. First, we built a bunch of AB patterns like the one pictured below. AB patterns are the simplest to copy, extend, and make. This one can be read, “red, blue, red, blue, red, blue,” or “diamond, trapezoid, diamond, trapezoid,” (or in your second language – if you are teaching your child one.) We would build them together and I would have him run from the pile of shapes to the end of the pattern.
PS – you can buy Giant Foam Pattern Blocks from several stores online, but they are not as easy to walk on, take up more space, are more expensive, and you cannot fold them =)
Raising a Happy Child says
January 20, 2012 at 11:39 amGreat idea! Your tot looks really happy with them!
Amanda says
January 20, 2012 at 12:32 pmThanks =) I look forward to the day when mine are both interested in tangram puzzles! Loved your last post! http://learningwithmouse.blogspot.com/2012/01/tangram-master.html
Wendy says
January 20, 2012 at 7:10 pmWow, fantastic idea!! I'm glad my post was inspiring…now I'm inspired, in turn. Thanks! 🙂
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
January 20, 2012 at 7:17 pmThat is really cool! Large sizes always make everything better! Thanks for mentioning your blog! Great ideas on our blog!
Amanda says
January 20, 2012 at 11:01 pmThank you so much =) We had a blast making, playing, and learning with these. Hoping to post more about how I am using them with my kindergartener this weekend!
Jeannie says
January 21, 2012 at 1:22 pmThat is awesome idea for pattern blocks! I am so glad I found it and You’re your newest follower!
Come see me too!
~jeannie~
Kindergarten Lifestyle
Classified Mom says
January 25, 2012 at 11:26 pmThat is an awesome idea- will have to do sometime! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us on The Sunday Showcase
Nessa Bixler says
January 26, 2012 at 2:13 pmWhat an awesome idea!! Love this.
Having Fun says
January 26, 2012 at 4:38 pmThe possibilities are endless with these large sized shapes. I love that they are so easy to make and cost is so low.
Veronica
Alicia Stucky says
January 27, 2012 at 6:13 amYou are my hero today! This is awesome on so many levels (especially the cinch-to-clean-up-and-store one!). I am doing this asap, for sure.
Amanda says
January 27, 2012 at 8:03 amYou are all so sweet =) Hope you are able to make this with your children or classrooms! If you do, please send me a picture and I will include it in our From Our readers section! https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/p/from-our-readers.html
momto8 says
January 29, 2012 at 9:43 amgreat idea!! My kids played with those shapes for hours..creating, manipulating etc..a greg fun learning tool..like yours!
i am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
Laura@art4littlehands says
January 29, 2012 at 11:55 pmI love pattern blocks. I tend to play with them longer than my kids sometimes. I love something about making mandalas and patterns and pictures from shapes. I am totally in love with the bigness of these. A must try. Thanks for linking it to Monday Madness.
Allison says
January 31, 2012 at 8:36 pmThis is genius. So awesome.
Anna @ The Imagination Tree says
February 1, 2012 at 5:57 pmreally gorgeous!! we've made these on a much smaller scale but now I want BIG ones too! lol
Sara Lou says
March 5, 2012 at 3:15 pmDo you know where a good place is to purchase the small wooden version for not an insane price? I love the big take on these and would love to acquire both the large and small versions!
Roopa Shri says
March 8, 2012 at 9:27 amWe love patterns blocks, use them even in our play kitchen:) Would love to make these big ones for Putti
Deanne says
March 19, 2012 at 5:31 pmFor get this being for toddlers…I am going to make a set for math tubs in my 1st grade classroom. LoVe It!
Jayne Gammons says
February 12, 2014 at 11:16 pmLove the movement ideas! Must go to buy felt today. Can you post the measurements to save time? Jayne
Smart Kids
ABCs of Reading
Crystal Nimmons says
July 23, 2014 at 4:59 pmI would LOVE LOVE the measurements and/or patterns for these!! 🙂