I have to say that I got my money’s worth out of the pattern blocks toy manipulative that I’ve had for ages. All my kids loved playing with them. I kept them in an old diaper wipes box, decorated with stickers and I found that my son, now 11 years old, will still occasionally pull them out!
Pattern blocks are a great math toy; math is the science of finding patterns! There are also patterns in language too! You could say that finding and understanding patterns is the secret to unlocking the world around us.
I found this video on The Kid Should See This. You can call it Pattern Block Ballet …
From the National Film Board of Canada and director René Jodoin, who was invited to join NFB by film legend Norman McLaren. Notes on a Triangle (1966) is a ballet of three hundred geometric transformations, animated into divisions, alignments, and patterns.
Waltz music by Maurice Blackburn.
Perhaps by Guido Van Genechten
Perhaps in the beginning, there are only primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Add to that basic shapes: circle, triangle and square. And if these shapes talk to each other: thank you, hurray and nice, there’s no telling what will happen! [picture book, ages 2 and up]
What Can I Be? by Ann Rand & Ingrid Fiksdahl King
Shapes come to life, trying to decide what to become. A circle that decides to be red can be an apple, a lollipop, or the setting sun. Lines too can become something more. A mast, a tree trunk, or the stem of a flower. Use this book as a warm up for an art activity! [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Apples and Robins by Lucie Félix
With die cut shapes, this picture book story about robins introduces shapes, colors, and seasons. It goes nicely with Perhaps for shapes exploration! [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Melissa and Doug Pattern Blocks, $16
Learning Resources Pattern Blocks, $16
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Hello! Welcome to the February 2016 Kid Lit Blog Hop. This exciting, now monthly hop, is where we develop an engaged group of people who love everything that has to do with children’s literature. Everyone is welcome to join us: bloggers, authors, publicist, and publishers!
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Our next hop will be March 16, 2016. The hostess will be around to see you. Happy Hopping!
Reading Authors, Hostess
Julie Grasso, Author
Cheryl Carpinello, Author
BeachBoundBooks
Pragmatic Mom
The Logonauts
A Book Long Enough
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BEST #OWNVOICES CHILDREN’S BOOKS: My Favorite Diversity Books for Kids Ages 1-12 is a book that I created to highlight books written by authors who share the same marginalized identity as the characters in their books.
You know I love patter blocks!
Hi MaryAnne,
Me too! I’m so happy my fifth grader will still pull them out!
Oops meant to say pattern blocks. Can’t type apparently.
Hi MaryAnne,
I have that same problem with autocorrect on my phone!
I quite like the idea of them being ‘patter’ blocks 🙂 – it makes me think that the endless possibilities for the imagination are accompanied by creative chatter…
Hi Marjorie,
I love your point!!! It should be pitter patter blocks! 🙂
Pattern blocks are a great way to learn. We love using them here
Hi Little Lady,
Yay! I’m glad they are popular at your home too!