Rory's Pattern Game

Years K - 3

This page would be more informative
with a photo from your classroom.
doug@blackdouglas.com.au

Summary

Rory, aged around 6, was using Poly Plug in a gifted and talented program when he invented this game. The activity encourages visualisation of pattern (development of visual memory) in a fun-filled physically involving way. Try it - extend it - tell us about it. The other children in his class loved it. Suitable for threading.
Note
The NRICH web site has a neat, software-based challenge which they call Poly Plug Pattern, which could be a partner to this activity.
 

Materials

  • Two Poly Plug yellow/blue boards per team

Procedure

  1. Separate into teams of around 4.
  2. Each team makes a pattern or picture in their yellow/blue board by turning over plugs.
  3. Set up a relay-type race with each team so that there is another yellow/blue board on a chair at the end of their 'running' lane.
  4. One person and one plug at a time, teams race to change the board at the end into the pattern they have at the start.
  5. Other house rules may be developed. For example, can the team hold up the master board for the runner to see from the end of the lane?
  

Content

  • 1:1 correspondence
  • conservation of number
  • counting
  • pattern interpretation
  • pattern recognition
  • problem solving
  • visual and kinaesthetic representation of number

Once the end board is completed, use the pattern or picture the children have created to discuss and record number stories.

For example, this picture could produce:
  • 2 + 2 + 5 = 9 (look at the top and bottom blue rows and what's down the middle)
  • 2 x 2 + 5 = 9
  • 3 + 3 + 3 = 9
  • 3 x 3 = 9
  • 25 - 9 = 4 + 4 + 4 + 4
  • 25 - 9 = 4 x 4
  • 25 - 9 = 2 x 8
  • (3 + 2) + (2 + 1 + 2) + (2 + 1 + 2) + (2 + 1 + 2) + (2 + 3) = 25
  • ...


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Calculating Changes ... is a division of ... Mathematics Centre