2. Pattern Blocks Developing Understanding

3. Leading Math Success Teachers who differentiate instruction focus on their role as coach or mentor. Carol Ann Tomlinson, 2001

4. Introducing Pattern Blocks

5. Virtual Pattern Blocks http://matti.usu.edu/nlvm/nav/vlibrary.html

6. Developing Understanding If a green triangle represents ½ then what is the value of the red trapezoid? If the green triangle represents 2 then what is the value of a yellow hexagon plus a blue parallelogram? How many different ways can you use pattern blocks to determine 1/2 + 1/6?

7. Developing Understanding Working with partners use the pattern blocks to solve this fraction puzzle. The fractions refer to the area of each shape: Build an equilateral triangle that is 1/3 green, 1/3 blue, and 1/3 red.

8. Reflection Give One Get One Describe another activity using pattern blocks in a math lesson

9. Next Steps Try one of the activities or explore one of the websites from the LMS manipulative sheet Use the Word Wall (p. 22–26, Think Literacy: Mathematics)

10. Leading Math Success “The key to the successful use of manipulatives lies in the bridge - which must be built by the teacher - between the artifact and the underlying mathematical concepts.”