There are a lot of commercially made pattern block task cards. For the primary grades, this is a great time saver. But what about getting our upper elementary students to make their own cards…ones that can be used with the entire class. Kids love it when they’re given opportunities to be creative. And since learning increases the more engaged students become in what they’re doing, it’s a win/win.

Using pattern block triangle paper (link below), have students make a design on the paper. Be sure they don’t use the squares or tan parallelograms as they don’t fit with the triangle paper.

Students trace the blocks on the paper, cut out the shape, then turn over and glue onto construction paper. See photo below for an example.

This is a fun activity to do if you have a buddy classroom of kindergartners or first graders. The next time your class visits with them, have your students bring their “homemade” puzzles and work on them with their buddies.

Click here for the triangle paper template.

Here’s another fun activity your upper elementary students can do with their pattern block task cards that ties in area and fractions: