K-5 Math Teaching Resources
Pattern Blocks
Who needs to buy pattern blocks when you have this printable pattern block template? Including triangles, squares, trapezoids, rhombuses, and hexagons, this resource offers endless possibilities for teaching children about geometric shapes.
Exploratorium
Exploring Pattern Blocks
Pattern blocks are one of the best math manipulatives ever invented. They are used quite extensively in the math activity presented here. Youngsters use the pattern block to fill in shapes that are present on the worksheet embedded in...
Curated OER
Pattern Block Fractions
Fourth graders participate in a lesson that is about the finding of different fractional sizes with the help of pattern blocks. They define the vocabulary terms of numerator and denominator. The lesson also uses geometry and relates it...
Exploratorium
Exploring Pattern Blocks
Here's a great lesson that uses one of the best manipulatives there is: pattern blocks. Elementary schoolers must fill in a variety of shapes using specific amounts of pattern blocks. This forces them to do some spatial mathematical...
Kids Can Have Fun
Cut and Paste Shapes
Engage youngsters in exploring the wonderful world of shapes with this series of cut-and-paste activities. Offering a variety of materials from printable pattern blocks to a series of matching exercises, this resource will have your...
Curated OER
Pattern Block Polygons
Sixth graders create polygons. In this shapes instructional activity, 6th graders explore prefixes such as oct, tri, quad, pent, etc. and share their findings. Students use pattern blocks to create two different polygons and label them.
Curated OER
Fraction Pattern Blocks
Seventh graders practice using pattern blocks. In this pre-algebra lesson, 7th graders complete tasks that require them to compare fractions, make fractions equivalent, and add fractions.
Curated OER
Block Designs
Students cover a picture with the correct pattern blocks and then sort the blocks into groups of the same shape. They make statements about the patterns blocks using comparison words.
Curated OER
Pattern Block Shapes
In this math worksheet, students cut out 23 pattern block shapes. The shapes include triangles, diamonds, squares, trapezoids, and hexagons.
Curated OER
Investigation - Can You Guess My Favorite Color?
Second graders explore a bag of mixed pattern blocks. As a class they discuss different attributes of these shapes. In this math lesson, 2nd graders search to find shapes that are similar by placing shapes on top of one another to...
Curated OER
Investigation - Patterns
Young scholars create a pattern out of pattern blocks. In this math lesson, students work with a partner to investigate the pattern they have. Within that group, young scholars continue to design the pattern by adding the next two...
Curated OER
Ocean Exploration: Shapes and Patterns Under the Sea
So many shapes in our vast oceans. Young explorers can discover new shapes in a variety of ways in this lesson. One way is having free exploration with a pattern shape kit handed out by the teacher. Another is by viewing a video, Ocean...
Curated OER
Investigation - Adrienne's Pattern Block Angles
Fifth graders investigate possible solutions to a word problem. They explore properties of polygons and right angles. Students demonstrate proper angle measurement. Students discover patterns.
Curated OER
Problem Solving of Patterns
Fifth graders use a software program to practice their problem solving skills. As a class, they identify patterns in their days at school and review problem solving patterns in math. They solve different problems and discover that the...
Northern Arizona University
Adding and Subtracting Fractions
Pattern blocks and shapes demonstrate how to add and subtract fractions. By aligning blocks with different shapes, learners figure out how to create a whole, and then how to add and delete parts from that whole.
Pyro Innovations
Get into Shape
Shapes are so fun! Little ones explore, identify, and create shapes using tangrams or pattern blocks. The activity is intended to stimulate critical thinking while engaging learners through play and shape identification. Each child will...
Curated OER
Block It: Using a Manipulative to Solve Math Problems
Students practice using visuals to solve math problems. In this math manipulative lesson, students utilize pattern blocks to participate in a class game in which geometric shapes touch other player's pieces. Students gain points based on...
Curated OER
Pattern Blocks
First graders examine a bag full of standard pattern blocks in the following shapes: triangle, hexagon, small rhombus, large rhombus (parallelogram), square, and trapezoid. They discuss the similarities and differences among them, count...
Curated OER
Tiling the Plaza (Geometry)
Students make patterns with a variety of pattern blocks. Pupils experiment with making tile designs using only one shape by rotating that shape around a point. They enter a contest for creating the best tile design for the new plaza...
Curated OER
Pattern Block Activities
Students practice various math skills by using manipulative activities. In this math manipulative lesson, students sort shapes, build hexagons, and build shapes using manipulatives. These activities would be great for parent ed or...
Curated OER
Tessellating the Hexagon
In this tessellating a hexagon worksheet, 10th graders complete 2 activities in creating a tessellation of a hexagon. They start off with the tessellation by the smallest pattern block and obtain other tessellations by replacing each two...
Curated OER
Investigation Area of Geometric Shapes
Fourth graders use triangle paper to design patterns using geometric figures and find the areas of those figures by counting units. Students are assessed by determining which figure has the greatest area and explaining their reasoning.
Curated OER
Block It Game
Students use problem solving strategies such as guess and check and visualization to play the game. They use mental mathematics to decide on the placement of pattern blocks and look for patterns.
Curated OER
Exploring Tessellations
Fifth graders examine how to make tessellations. In this tessellation lesson, 5th graders review the meaning of the word "polygon" while the teacher shows them various examples. They practice making tiling patterns or tessellation's with...