Pattern Block Designs and Graphs!

Math Grades 1st Grade 4:48 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn about shapes, patterns, and graphs using pattern blocks! Cover a design, sort the shapes, and make a graph to show how many of each shape you used.

Video Resource

Grade 1: Math Lesson #69 Graphing Pieces To Cover A Design

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 4:48
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Key Concepts

  • Shape recognition (triangle, square, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon)
  • Sorting and classifying objects
  • Data representation through graphing

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify and name different pattern block shapes.
  • Students will be able to sort pattern blocks by shape.
  • Students will be able to create a bar graph to represent the number of each shape used in their design.
  • Students will be able to interpret the data in their graph.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by reviewing different shapes (triangle, square, rhombus, trapezoid, hexagon). Ask students to name real-world objects that have these shapes. Introduce the idea of using these shapes to create a design.
  • Creating the Design (10 mins)
    Have students use pattern blocks to cover a design or picture. Encourage them to be creative and fill the entire space. You can provide pre-made templates, or have students create their own designs. As they work, ask them what shapes they are using and why they chose them.
  • Sorting and Counting (5 mins)
    Once the design is complete, have students carefully remove the pattern blocks and sort them into groups based on shape. Guide them to count the number of each shape they used.
  • Graphing the Data (10 mins)
    Introduce the concept of a bar graph. Model how to create a graph with shapes on the x-axis (horizontal) and the number of shapes on the y-axis (vertical). Guide students to create their own graphs representing the number of each shape they used in their design. Have them draw the shapes and color in the corresponding number of squares to represent the count.
  • Interpreting the Graph (5 mins)
    Ask questions about the graph: "Which shape did you use the most?" "Which shape did you use the least?" "How many triangles did you use?" "Did you use more squares or rhombuses?" Encourage students to compare the quantities of different shapes based on their graph.

Interactive Exercises

  • Shape Scavenger Hunt
    Before the lesson, hide pattern blocks around the room. Have students find them and sort them into groups by shape.
  • Pattern Block Puzzles
    Provide pattern block puzzle cards where students have to fill in the outline of a picture using pattern blocks. Then, have them graph the shapes they used.

Discussion Questions

  • What shapes did you use in your design? Why did you choose those shapes?
  • Which shape did you use the most? Why do you think that is?
  • How does the graph help us see which shapes we used the most and least?
  • Can you think of other things we could graph?

Skills Developed

  • Shape recognition
  • Sorting and classification
  • Data representation and interpretation
  • Counting
  • Fine motor skills

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which shape has 3 sides?

Correct Answer: Triangle

Question 2:

Which shape has 6 sides?

Correct Answer: Hexagon

Question 3:

What do we call a picture that shows us information?

Correct Answer: Graph

Question 4:

What do we do after we cover our design with pattern blocks?

Correct Answer: Sort them

Question 5:

If you have 2 triangles and 2 squares, how many shapes do you have in all?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 6:

Which of these is NOT a shape we used in the video?

Correct Answer: Circle

Question 7:

What does a graph help us do?

Correct Answer: Show information

Question 8:

If your graph shows you used more triangles than squares, which shape did you use the most?

Correct Answer: Triangles

Question 9:

How many sides does a square have?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 10:

In a graph, what do we do to show how many of each shape we used?

Correct Answer: Color squares

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A ________ has three sides.

Correct Answer: triangle

Question 2:

A ________ has four sides and four corners, and all the sides are the same length.

Correct Answer: square

Question 3:

A ________ has six sides.

Correct Answer: hexagon

Question 4:

We use pattern blocks to cover a ________.

Correct Answer: design

Question 5:

After sorting, we can count how many of each ________ we used.

Correct Answer: shape

Question 6:

A ________ helps us see how many of each shape we used.

Correct Answer: graph

Question 7:

The rhombus has ____ sides.

Correct Answer: four

Question 8:

We ________ the shapes into groups before we count.

Correct Answer: sort

Question 9:

In the graph, we use ________ to represent the number of shapes.

Correct Answer: squares

Question 10:

The trapezoid has _______ sides.

Correct Answer: four

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another. CCSS.Math.Content.1.G.A.1:Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size); build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes. CCSS.Math.Content.1.G.A.2:Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) or three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, and right circular cylinders) to create a composite shape, and compose new shapes from the composite shape. (Students do not need to learn formal names such as "right rectangular prism.")

Teaching Materials

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