Pattern Block Detectives: What Makes a Shape?

Look at sides, corners, and closed shapes, not color, size, or turns.

Count sides and corners

Look closely at each pattern block.

Look at this gray block.

How many straight sides does it have? sides
How many corners does it have? corners

Circle every block that has exactly 4 straight sides.

Which one is NOT a triangle?

A. B. C. D.

Sort the blocks by their sides.

What changes the name?

Think about what makes each shape what it is.

Pia sees that the triangle pattern block is green. She says, "All triangles are green." Is Pia right?

A. Yes. A triangle must be green.B. No. A triangle can be any color. It must be closed and have 3 straight sides.C. No. A triangle must be gray.D. Yes. Every green shape is a triangle.

Owen says block A and block B are different kinds of shapes. He says A is gray and B is white, and B is standing up. Which is true?

A. Owen is right. A white shape cannot be a rectangle.B. Owen is right. B is a different shape because it stands up.C. Both are rectangles. Color and turning do not change the name.

Ruby has this square block. Which change would make it NOT a square anymore?

A. Color it blue.B. Turn it so it stands on a corner.C. Pull two sides so they are longer than the other two.D. Make it much bigger.

Circle each sentence that is true for every circle.

Riddles and drawing

Use what makes each shape what it is.

Solve each block riddle. Use the word bank.

I am big and red. I am closed. I have 3 straight sides and 3 corners. I am a .
I am small and blue. I am closed. I have 6 straight sides and 6 corners. I am a .
I am turned on my side. I am closed. I have 4 straight sides and 4 square corners. Two of my sides are long and two are short. I am a .

10.

Ben traced a triangle block, but his line did not close. Draw a line to close the gap so the shape is a triangle.

11.

Ana's block is big and gray. Tess's block is small and white. Both blocks are closed and have 6 straight sides. Are they the same kind of shape? Tell why.