Recently, for a different experience in math, I decided to forgo the textbooks and do a more hands-on approach. I have had this story - Grandfather Tang's Story by Ann Tomport on my bookshelf for awhile. I just hadn't taken the time to read it to the kids. The book is basically a tale told with tangram. If you don't know what tangrams are - they are several different basic shapes that are used to make pictures. The story is about two foxes that change into different animals to out compete the other. I gave them each a set of plastic tangrams (you can make paper ones too) so they could complete each animal picture.
Each animal that the foxes turned into had a picture diagram so the kids could make their own. It was somewhat difficult at first because they were new to tangrams. But they caught on the further we went in the book.
J made a rabbit.
Kaleb was completing his rabbit with Riley looking on.
J's swan. We played with the tangrams for about an hour, making different pictures with each. It was nice to change our norm when it comes to math. Tomorrow, though, it is back to the textbooks:)
Links
One Mama's Daily Drama - has a free printable set of tangrams along with some challenge cards to get you started.
Layers of Learning - has a free template along with a few ideas.
Oh Happy Day - has a neat idea of a floor set of tangrams, wow - these are cool.
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