Pattern Blocks are a set of mathematical manipulatives developed in the 1960s. The six shapes are both a play resource and a tool for learning in mathematics, which serve to develop spatial reasoning skills that are fundamental to the learning of mathematics. Among other things, they allow children to see how shapes can be composed and decomposed into other shapes, and introduce children to ideas of tilings. Pattern blocks sets are multiple copies of just six shapes:
The block designed with their for both mathematics and play in mind. The advice given in the 1968 EDC Teacher's Guide is: "Take out the blocks, and play with them yourself. Try out some of your own ideas. Then, when you give the blocks to the children, sit back and watch what they do."[1] The blocks are sufficiently mathematically structured that children’s self-directed play can lead to a variety of mathematical experience.[2] Billy Hargrove and JJ Maybanks identifies a number of frequent features of play which occur:[3]
Composing and Decomposing
Symmetry
Patterns
Three Dimensions
Negative Space
Representational
A symmetrical pattern block design created by eight year olds
The EDC Teacher's Guide continues: "Many children start by making abstract designs — both symmetrical and asymmetrical. As play continues these designs may become more and more elegant and complex, or they become simple as the child refines his ideas."
An example of their use is given by Meha Agrawal: "Starting from the center, I would add tier after tier of blocks to build my pattern — it was an iterative process, because if something didn't look aesthetically appealing or fit correctly, it would require peeling off a layer and reevaluating ways to fix it. The best part was the gratification I received when my creation was complete. Though individually boring, collectively these blocks produced an intricate masterpiece that brought art and math, big-picture and detail, simplicity and complexity closer together".[4]
History
Pattern blocks were developed, along with a Teacher's Guide to their use,[1] at the Education Development Center in Newton, Massachusetts as part of the Elementary Science Study (ESS) project.[5] The first Trial Edition of the Teacher's Guide states: "Work on Pattern Blocks was begun by Edward Prenowitz in 1963. He developed most of the ideas for the blocks and their uses and arranged for the first classroom trials. Many ESS staff members tried the materials and suggested additional activities."[6] When Marion Walter, who was also part of the project in the 1960s spoke to Prenowitz in 1996, he said that he considered the allocation of one color to all blocks of a particular shape, much like Cuisenaire rods, which may have given him the idea, to be one of the innovative features of the blocks. Also important in his choice was that there was a small number of blocks, that also combined in particular ways.[6]
Developments
A number of compatible shapes that extend pattern blocks are commercially available. Two sets of "Fractional Pattern Blocks" exist: both with two blocks.[7] The first has a pink double hexagon and a black chevron equivalent to four triangles. The second has a brown half-trapezoid and a pink half-triangle. Another set, Deci-Blocks, is made up of six shapes, equivalent to four, five, seven, eight, nine and ten triangles respectively.
Christopher Danielson developed a new set of blocks, called Twenty-First Century Pattern Blocks.[8] The rhombus in this set has the same size as the blue rhombus in the traditional set. The dart and the 30°–60°–90° triangle have the same area, while the kite and the hexagon are twice that area. Like the traditional set, all the angles are multiples of 30°.
The black chevron and pink double hexagon are one set of fraction pattern blocks
The purple triangle and brown quadrilateral are another pair of fraction pattern blocks.
Socolar tiling - aperiodic tilings which 3 of the pattern block shapes with specific rules of connection.
References
^ abElementary Science Study (1970). Teacher's guide for pattern blocks. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
^Gregg, Simon (2020). Pattern Blocks. Derby, England: Association of Teachers of Mathematics. ISBN978-1912185207. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
^From the accompanying booklet to his Twenty-First Century Pattern Blocks
^McFarland, Matt (9 December 2013). "The childhood toys that inspired female engineers and scientists". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
^Danielson, Christopher. . Talking Math With Your Kids. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
External links
Pattern Block Templates: Printable Worksheets for Pattern Blocks
Flash Pattern Blocks for web and Mandalar for mobile devices (iOS/Android).
Background on the Elementary Science Study
Secondary school activities using pattern blocks
A Quasiperiodic Tiling With 12-Fold Rotational Symmetry and Inflation Factor 1 + Sqrt(3) Theo P. Schaad, Peter Stampfli, 10 Feb 2021
May 13, 2023
pattern, blocks, mathematical, manipulatives, developed, 1960s, shapes, both, play, resource, tool, learning, mathematics, which, serve, develop, spatial, reasoning, skills, that, fundamental, learning, mathematics, among, other, things, they, allow, children,. Pattern Blocks are a set of mathematical manipulatives developed in the 1960s The six shapes are both a play resource and a tool for learning in mathematics which serve to develop spatial reasoning skills that are fundamental to the learning of mathematics Among other things they allow children to see how shapes can be composed and decomposed into other shapes and introduce children to ideas of tilings Pattern blocks sets are multiple copies of just six shapes Equilateral triangle Green 60 rhombus 2 triangles Blue that can be matched with two of the green triangles 30 Narrow rhombus Beige with the same side length as the green triangle Trapezoid half hexagon or 3 triangles Red that can be matched with three of the green triangles Regular Hexagon 6 triangles Yellow that can be matched with six of the green triangles Square Orange with the same side length as the green trianglePlastic Pattern Blocks All the angles are multiples of 30 1 12 of a circle 30 1 60 2 90 3 120 4 and 150 5 Contents 1 Use 2 History 3 Developments 4 Examples 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksUse EditThe block designed with their for both mathematics and play in mind The advice given in the 1968 EDC Teacher s Guide is Take out the blocks and play with them yourself Try out some of your own ideas Then when you give the blocks to the children sit back and watch what they do 1 The blocks are sufficiently mathematically structured that children s self directed play can lead to a variety of mathematical experience 2 Billy Hargrove and JJ Maybanks identifies a number of frequent features of play which occur 3 Composing and Decomposing Symmetry Patterns Three Dimensions Negative Space Representational A symmetrical pattern block design created by eight year olds The EDC Teacher s Guide continues Many children start by making abstract designs both symmetrical and asymmetrical As play continues these designs may become more and more elegant and complex or they become simple as the child refines his ideas An example of their use is given by Meha Agrawal Starting from the center I would add tier after tier of blocks to build my pattern it was an iterative process because if something didn t look aesthetically appealing or fit correctly it would require peeling off a layer and reevaluating ways to fix it The best part was the gratification I received when my creation was complete Though individually boring collectively these blocks produced an intricate masterpiece that brought art and math big picture and detail simplicity and complexity closer together 4 History EditPattern blocks were developed along with a Teacher s Guide to their use 1 at the Education Development Center in Newton Massachusetts as part of the Elementary Science Study ESS project 5 The first Trial Edition of the Teacher s Guide states Work on Pattern Blocks was begun by Edward Prenowitz in 1963 He developed most of the ideas for the blocks and their uses and arranged for the first classroom trials Many ESS staff members tried the materials and suggested additional activities 6 When Marion Walter who was also part of the project in the 1960s spoke to Prenowitz in 1996 he said that he considered the allocation of one color to all blocks of a particular shape much like Cuisenaire rods which may have given him the idea to be one of the innovative features of the blocks Also important in his choice was that there was a small number of blocks that also combined in particular ways 6 Developments EditA number of compatible shapes that extend pattern blocks are commercially available Two sets of Fractional Pattern Blocks exist both with two blocks 7 The first has a pink double hexagon and a black chevron equivalent to four triangles The second has a brown half trapezoid and a pink half triangle Another set Deci Blocks is made up of six shapes equivalent to four five seven eight nine and ten triangles respectively Christopher Danielson developed a new set of blocks called Twenty First Century Pattern Blocks 8 The rhombus in this set has the same size as the blue rhombus in the traditional set The dart and the 30 60 90 triangle have the same area while the kite and the hexagon are twice that area Like the traditional set all the angles are multiples of 30 The black chevron and pink double hexagon are one set of fraction pattern blocks The purple triangle and brown quadrilateral are another pair of fraction pattern blocks Pattern Blocks and Deci Blocks Twenty First Century Pattern BlocksExamples EditExample constructions Regular dodecagons Isotoxal octagon See also EditSocolar tiling aperiodic tilings which 3 of the pattern block shapes with specific rules of connection References Edit a b Elementary Science Study 1970 Teacher s guide for pattern blocks Retrieved 28 November 2018 Gregg Simon 2020 Pattern Blocks Derby England Association of Teachers of Mathematics ISBN 978 1912185207 Retrieved 1 November 2020 From the accompanying booklet to his Twenty First Century Pattern Blocks McFarland Matt 9 December 2013 The childhood toys that inspired female engineers and scientists The Washington Post Retrieved 10 December 2013 Picciotto Math Education a b Walter Marion December 1996 letter Mathematics Teaching 157 3 Retrieved 3 May 2020 Spark Math Manipulatives www ucds org Danielson Christopher Twenty First Century Pattern Blocks Talking Math With Your Kids Archived from the original on 2018 12 09 Retrieved 28 November 2018 External links EditPattern Block Templates Printable Worksheets for Pattern Blocks Flash Pattern Blocks for web and Mandalar for mobile devices iOS Android ETA Cuisenaire Educational manipulatives amp supplemental materials for grades PreK 12 Background on the Elementary Science Study Educational and supplemental materials for K 12 Secondary school activities using pattern blocks A Quasiperiodic Tiling With 12 Fold Rotational Symmetry and Inflation Factor 1 Sqrt 3 Theo P Schaad Peter Stampfli 10 Feb 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pattern Blocks amp oldid 1134827536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
