Learning Resources LER 7252 User Manual

GRADES

!

WARNING:

CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts.

Not for children under 3 years.

Fast Track Learning

™

Skill-building

Activities & Games

Patterns 

& Shapes

Pattern Block

G

Fast Track Learning

LER 7252

™

Pattern Block

Patterns 

& Shapes

1

&

2

Skill-building

Activities & Games

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About This Book

In Fast Track Learning™ — Pattern

Blocks Patterns and Shapes, children

develop thinking and reasoning skills

through the use of pattern blocks.

Pattern blocks are a set of 6 shapes.

Each shape has a different color.

Pattern blocks are used to create

patterns and figures in art, and to

study mathematics, in classrooms

throughout the world.

In this book, children use pattern

blocks to solve puzzles by creating

space objects from the pieces, as

well as play games.

Blue Rhombus

Orange Square

2

Green Triangle

Red Trapezoid

Tan Rhombus

How to Use This Book:

To get started, you will need to pop out the clear plastic case with the pattern blocks from the book cover. The book then will lie flat so children can work directly on the activity pages. When pattern block play is finished, the pieces can be returned to the case and snapped back into the book for safe storage.

Yellow Hexagon

The activities in this book are coded by level of difficulty. Look for the stars in the corners of the pages.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

The first 5 activities include the outlines of each pattern block

shape and can be solved easily even by a beginner. Children must slide, turn, and flip pieces in order for them to fit. Even very young learners can feel successful with the first part of the book.

The next 7 activities include partial outlines to make the

activities more challenging, while still giving a hint. Encourage beginners to try their best, and to look at the whole puzzle for hints. Each of these pages includes a hint as to how many pieces kids must use to solve the puzzle. Ask children to find other solutions to each puzzle. There is often more than one way to solve many of these problems.

The next 6 activities incorporate the idea of symmetry. If

children have a hard time grasping the concept, hold a hand mirror down on the line of symmetry so they can see what the completed shape will look like. For young children, have them complete one side while you complete the other.

The final 3 activities do not include any interior lines and

are the most challenging. Encourage children to approach the

puzzles systematically. Remember, there are often multiple solutions.

At the end of this book, on pages 29 and 30, you’ll find Rainy Day Extensions. These ideas for additional fun will help you extend your pattern block activities.

Possible solutions for selected puzzles are found on pages 31 and 32.

Things You Can Do

Work alongside your children as they solve the puzzles. Children love to work with an adult on activities such as these.

Encourage and praise. Kids love to feel successful at whatever they do.

Use this book as a coloring book. With crayons, colored pencils, or markers, children can add color to the pattern block pages as they complete them.

Give hints. If you see your child is struggling with some of the more challenging puzzles, take a peek in the back and give him/her hints. You can also draw in lines for younger children.

Most important of all—have fun!

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