User Guide

4
Congruent Shapes
Display the hexagon on the board. Ask, “Can you use other blocks to make a shape
that is the same as the hexagon?” Let students work independently to solve the
problem. Then, ask them to show their solutions on the board.
Ask, “What do you notice about each of the shapes we have made?” (Answer: All are
the same size, same shape.) Then, explain that when shapes have the same size and
shape, they are called congruent shapes. Show students how to place one shape on
top of the other to prove they are the same size and the same shape.
Continue finding congruent shapes for other Pattern Block pieces. For example:
Similar Shapes
Display a green triangle on the whiteboard. Ask students to make a larger triangle
shaped like the green triangle. Repeat the activity, asking students to make a
rhombus larger than the blue rhombus. There are many possibilities, some of which
are shown below.
First, let students share their triangle solutions on the whiteboard by showing any
larger triangles they formed. Place a green triangle next to the larger ones, asking,
“How are the larger triangles like this one?” (Answer: All have three sides, same
shape.) Explain that when two shapes are the same, but different sizes, they are
called similar shapes. Next, students can share the similar shapes they found for the
blue rhombuses, and then find shapes similar to the orange square, the red
trapezoid, the tan rhombus and yellow hexagon. Some solutions are shown below.
Exploring Symmetry
As students watch, trace around each of the Giant Magnetic Pattern Blocks on the
whiteboard. Also, trace them on paper and make copies for children to cut out and
fold. Then, using a student’s papers, fold one of the shapes into two matching parts.
Explain that the fold line is a line of symmetry. On the whiteboard, draw the lines of
symmetry within the shape using dotted lines. Ask students to fold their shapes
along the lines of symmetry in as many ways as they can to find two matching parts.