Composing 2D Shapes

Substitution Composer

Makes new shapes out of smaller shapes, and uses trial and error to substitute groups of shapes for other shapes to create new shapes in different ways. At this level, children solve Pattern Block Puzzles in which they must substitute shapes to fill an outline in different ways.

Activities

You may see this:

Other Examples:

Given an outline of a hexagon shape, a child uses pattern blocks and through trial and error fills the shape multiple times. For example, once with 6 triangles and once with three rhombi.

Help your student become a(n) Substitution Composer

These activities challenge children to build the same shape in many different ways using different shape substitutions. Activities and encouragement should lead them to be systematic. As a simple example, they may make a pattern block hexagon from two trapezoids and then keep one of the trapezoids but substitute a blue rhombus and a triangle. Then they keep the trapezoid and the triangle, but substitute two more triangles for the rhombus. Ensure they do this intentionally, rather than by trial and error.

Can You Find Another Way?

Pattern Block Puzzles and Tangram Puzzles: New Ways

Shape Puzzles [Free Explore]

Shape Puzzles [Substitution Composer]