Pattern Block Use In MIddle School and HIgh School Math.

Every school I've taught at, my math room has had a set of pattern blocks. The science teacher just borrowed my set because she wants to work with the 9th graders learn to graph and these blocks offer an easy opportunity.

One way to do this is to hand students a handful of pattern pieces which they sort and note the number of each type of block.  Using the data they are able to create a bar graph. 

In addition, pattern pieces can be used in geometry to help students name the shapes, find the equation for area and for perimeter.  The pieces can also be used to practice finding lines of symmetry.  You can also have students use certain pieces to create squares, parallelograms,  pentagons, etc instead of using tangrams.

Of course, pattern pieces can be used to illustrate fractions because the pieces are set up so students can see that the rhombus is 1/3rd of a hexagon, a triangle is 1/6 of a hexagon, while a trapezoid is 1/2 of a hexagon.   Furthermore, students can determine how many triangles in a rhombus or the number of  triangles in a trapezoid.  It gives students the chance to understand that fractions are not always slices of pizza, either circular or square. 

Students can use pattern blocks to create their own version of which one does not belong or odd man out so that one is different. Rather than having the teacher set them up, let students do it because it allows them to develop critical thinking skills to look deeper than just color or length of sides.

Another activity for students is to create clues so a person can place the shapes in the correct order from one to four.  The clues might be "The shape with four equal sides but with no 90 degree angles is in space 3. This activity helps students think logically.

Furthermore, pattern blocks placed on a coordinate plane can be used to help students learn about transformations such as translations, rotation, and symmetry.  Students can mark the points of a pieces vertex in the original place and the new place, then discuss the translation in terms of unit and direction.  Rotation and symmetry would work the same way.

These are just a few ways pattern blocks can be used in middle school or high school.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great dayl.