Diverse Activities

Russia - Matryoshka dolls

Russian matryoshka or “nesting” dolls can be found in many forms. They are not always decorated in traditional ways. They can have various designs painted on them from people of many kinds to animals or characters.

If you have any version of a nesting doll in your house it can be used to introduce and explore the concepts of similar versus congruent, sizes, and patterns. If every matryoshka doll in the set has the same pattern painted or drawn on it, then the children will be able to understand that designs being repeated are a pattern.

If the dolls all have the same pattern, they can be used to explore the concept of similar because even though all the dolls are different sizes they all have the same pattern. This makes them similar but not congruent. Even if they do not have the same pattern they can be similar because in order to fit together they must be the same relative shape.

Dolls of this kind can also allow students to explore sizes because the dolls only go together in one order. In order to put all the dolls together, they must be put back from smallest to largest. This allows children to explore the concept of magnetism.

China - Tangrams

Tangrams were invented in China about 200 years ago and are a kind of puzzle. There are seven geometric shapes cut out of a square (two small triangles, one big triangle, two large triangles, one small square, and a (parallelogram). There are then patterns to follow and the goal is to make that pattern using all seven of your shapes.

These puzzles require children to use their spacial reasoning skills to make their shapes match the larger pattern shown. They must manipulate the small shapes into the pattern until all fit. This can require flipping the shapes over or spinning them, as well as moving them in and out of places in the pattern.

These puzzles can also teach concepts of large and small and similar v. congruent because the shapes are the same in different sizes. Students can also learn the names of shapes and colors. They are also useful in teaching about fractions. The kind of brain work these puzzles require forces children to use the critical thinking skills they are developing in schools.

Here is a website for online tangrams to play: https://mathigon.org/tangram

Japan - Origami

Origami is thought to have originated from Japan. The goal of origami is to turn a square piece of paper into shapes, often animals through folding. In order for origami to be successful and look their best, this folding must be done with straight lines, great precision, and often the folds look like different kinds of triangles.

When we show children how to make origami, it teaches them to manipulate objects carefully. Due to the way folds are made, making origami objects can also reinforce concepts of symmetry and shapes as they fold the paper into different shapes.

Here is a website with some beginner origami to try on your own or to make with your children: https://www.origamiway.com/easy-origami.shtml

Thailand - mandalas

Mandalas are geometric configurations of shapes that can have spiritual relevance in some religions. They are very beautiful images that can be drawn or printed to be colored in.

No matter how students interact with mandalas, they will be able to deepen their understanding of patterns and symmetry. Mandalas are created by repeatedly drawing the same or similar shapes to make a pattern.

If children want to color in already drawn mandalas, you can find some at the link. http://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/arts-culture/mandala

Poland - gwiazdy

Gwiazdy means star in Polish and essentially, these are paper snowflakes but they have 8 parts not 6 like other paper snowflakes that you may come across. Gwiazdy cut outs come from the tradition of decorating houses in Poland!

When you make these, you can fold the paper in half then in half again to get 8 sections. Then curve the end to make it round. Draw your pattern on one side of the folded piece of paper then cut it out. When you cut them out the patterns repeat themselves and this reinforces the concept of patterns.