The purpose of this activity is for students to put together pattern blocks strategically to make a specific shape. Students use square pattern blocks to fill in two squares. Then they work together to create another square and a shape that is not a square, without using outlines. Students informally compare the shapes that they have created in the Activity Synthesis. Students count and write numbers to show how many pattern blocks they used.

• Display one student-created square and a shape made out of pattern blocks that is not a square.
• “What is the same about the shapes? What is different about them?” (The square has sides that are the same length. The other shape is short and thin.)
• “How many pattern blocks did it take to make each shape?”

The purpose of this activity is to solve a puzzle, using only one pattern block shape. Students need to change the orientation of the pattern blocks and align the sides of the pattern blocks carefully to fill in the puzzle (MP6). Although the task asks students to use only one kind of pattern block in the second problem, students may choose to fill in the puzzle with different kinds of pattern blocks. If they do, they should still write a number to represent how many pattern blocks they used.

• If a student used all triangle pattern blocks to fill in the puzzle, invite the student to share.
• If no student used all triangle pattern blocks to fill in the puzzle, say, “Use only triangles to fill in the puzzle. How many triangles did you use?”

The purpose of this activity is for students to choose from activities that offer practice with number and shape concepts.

Students choose any previously introduced stage from these centers:

• Geoblocks
• Grab and Count
• Find the Pair

Students will choose from these centers throughout the section. Keep materials from these centers organized to use each day. 
 

• “Tell your partner about something that you built during centers today.”