User Guide

Giant Magnetic Pattern Blocks

Giant Magnetic Pattern Blocks include six shapes in six colors. This 47-piece set

consists of the following shapes:

(4) (8) (6) (12) (9) (8)

yellow red orange green large blue small tan

hexagon trapezoid square triangle rhombus rhombus

Use these Giant Magnetic Pattern Blocks for demonstration on a magnetic

whiteboard, along with Pattern Blocks for student exploration. Use them to enrich

students’ experiences with spatial visualization, patterns, symmetry, congruence,

similarity and even fractions.

Before performing the activities, give students time to explore freely with pattern

blocks. Students can create interesting designs or patterns and show them to the

entire class using these Giant Magnetic Pattern Blocks.

Identifying Pattern Blocks and their Attributes

Depending on students’ knowledge, you may want to introduce shape names. Ask,

“How would you describe this block?” (Answer: Yellow, six sides; hexagon.) Display

the other Pattern Blocks and ask students to describe the blocks by attribute, such as

color, number of sides, and shape name. Sort by the attributes you’ve identified.

Patterns

Create linear patterns on the whiteboard, such as:

Let volunteers continue the pattern on the board while students at their seats copy

and continue the pattern. Include other kinds of patterns for students to copy and

continue, such as: