Shape Composer—Units of Units

Builds and applies units of units (shapes made from other shapes). For example, in constructing spatial patterns, extends patterning activity to create a tiling with a new unit shape—a unit of unit shape that they recognize and consciously construct.

Activities

You may see this:

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Other Examples:

  • Child builds a large structure by making a combination of pattern blocks over and over and then fitting them together.

Help your student become a(n) Shape Composer—Units of Units

These activities provide activities that involve units of units and intentional spatial structuring by children. In the Tiling Tetrominoes example, children might tile the grid by actually using three levels units (large squares) of units (a square or a "T" tetrominoe) of units (small squares). Discuss the many structures, or spatial patterns, with children explicitly.

Special Thanks To

Institute of Education Sciences
The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through grant numbers R305K050157, R305A120813, R305A110188, and R305A150243. to the University of Denver. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.