I never get enough of these tangrams and am always looking to buy different versions of it..
Actually tangrams consissts of 7 pieces made using 3 basic geometric shapes. There are two large, one medium and two small triangles, one square and one parallelogram.
But everyone calls any basic geometric shapes tangrams which are actually pattern blocks.
I first learnt about it when I was teaching Math in a Primary school.We used them in conjunction with our math curriculum.
I also learnt more about it during an exhibition held at NIE on Giftedness quite sometime back.
The speaker a professor from ..( can't remember where) was speaking about research that was done.
All his slides showed children playing with pattern blocks or tangrams.
After the exhibition you can imagine the sale of our pattern blocks and tangrams.
But pattern blocks aren't only for the school setting. They are a perfect toddler activity and toy that can be used at home too.
Benefits of Pattern Block Play
Helps children:
1. build visual-spatial skills
2. increase pattern recognition
3. practice shape recognition
4. visualize how shapes work together to create new shapes
5. master color recognition
6. learn beginning math concepts
7. practice creativity
There are many different types of pattern blocks. They are available in plastic, foam, magnetic or wooden.