Angles and Shapes
By looking at the common geometric shapes of pattern blocks, which have been used before (see pattern block trains and perimeters), students can explore angles and their combinations, as well as lay some foundations for further study in geometry and the use of circle graphs.
Angles are formed by two rays that intersect at a point called the vertex.
The unit of measurement for angles was created by the Babylonians, and is formed by dividing a circle into 360 equal parts.
By placing pattern blocks around the center of the circle so that their corners (vertices) touch the center, students can determine the measure of the various angles formed by the corners of the different shapes. For example, with squares...
...and triangles.
How many degrees are in the corners shown around the centers of these circles?
Students can also use known angles of pattern blocks to figure out unknown angles. For example:
In class, we do a lot of exploring with the pattern blocks. Some vocabulary words we learn include
Keep an eye out for angles and shapes around the home or when you're out and about with yur child. Encourage them to estimate angle measures and look for examples of familiar angles in the world around them. These intuitive ideas about angle measurement will help to form a solid foundation for later work in geometry and in constructions and mappings.