Pattern Blocks

Basic Skills students benefit from the cooperative group work and English Second Language Learners are given "non-threatening" opportunity to practice their communication skills. Students work in groups of 3-4 to construct their project.

The digital camera records the entire process - from the beginning stages (the discussion, brainstorming, fractional analysis, creative ideas) to the final product (oral presentation).

Each hexagon is 1 unit. Students discuss fractional values of the other pieces. For example:

if two trapezoid pieces make up a hexagon - it is 1/2
if 3 rhombus pieces make up a hexagon - it is 1/3
if 6 triangle pieces make up a hexagon - it is 1/6

Using this information, the students then "trade" 12 hexagons for other shapes in correct multiples :

trapezoids - 2,4,6,8,10, etc.
rhombus - 3,6,9,12, etc.
triangles- 6,12,18,24, etc.

Making sure they have a total of 12 (and all four shapes represented), the group comes up with a creative design. Once approved, students trace pattern block shapes and replace with construction paper pieces on black poster board.

Students will then incorporate writing as they record their process and description of their creation in an "open-ended" constructive response (which will be read aloud for class presentation).