Structuring School Opportunities

Workstation Materials

Design Materials

Design creates the deep understanding, creativity, connections, agency, and spirit essential to the study of mathematics for all the years to come.

I prefer to offer design materials with either a black background (black magnetic board, black construction paper or black felt) or, if transparent, a light table or overhead projector.

magnetic dots in shades and tints of blue
Grimm’s magnetic dots in shades and tints and other magnetic puzzles they make.
Grimm's magnetic quarter circles
Grimm’s magnetic quarter circles
often designing is stimulated by materials in two colors so pattern becomes apparent
often designing is stimulated by materials in two colors so pattern becomes apparent

 

Jean painted wood cubes with a carefully chosen pallet, NOT primary colors
Jenn painted wood cubes with a carefully chosen pallet, NOT primary colors

 

unpainted wood disks in two sizes colored in three colors with cloth dye
unpainted wood disks in two sizes (3/4″ and  1-1/2″) colored in three colors with non-toxic dye
for source of the disks click image
for source of the disks, click image
popsicle sticks dyed at the same time
popsicle sticks dyed at the same time

sticks2

 

pattern blocks, at least 1000, wood ones can stand on their edge better
pattern blocks, at least 1000, wood ones can stand on their edge better
transparent pattern blocks for the light table
transparent pattern blocks for the light table
tessel-gons have 1" sides also, so they work with pattern blocks
tessel-gons have 1″ sides also, so they work with pattern blocks

 

kites & darts are two different shaped pieces, also called Penrose tiles
kites & darts are two different shaped pieces, also called Penrose tiles

 

flat glass marbles, clear and amber, for vase filler
flat glass marbles, clear and amber, used for vase filler in flower arrangements

 

amber and white opal stained glass tiles
stained glass tiles in amber and white opal

 

sandstone
sandstone

 

smooth stones
smooth stones

 

Hexagonal generators composed of five motifs of lines and curves connecting the midpoints of a side. I had a set of these in cardboard that was published in Australia and it was highly popular with the children. Tantrix publishes games.
Hexagonal path tiles composed of five motifs of lines and curves connecting the midpoints of a side. Above are Tantrix games with colored lines.
abcde
The five possible path motifs.

 

Cardboard set of hexagonal generators with motifs 1, 3, and 4 only, made in Australia.
Cardboard set of hexagonal path tiles with motifs A, B, and C only, made in Australia, a favorite design material for children — hours of cooperation!

 

squares and right triangles in two colors only

tessel-gram2

 

twigs
twigs cut in two or three standard lengths

 

cotton swabs glue on black paper
cotton swabs, glue (bottle and 1 oz. portion cups), black paper, wet cloth in baggie

 

Fröbel's Gift 7, parquetry, also comes in paper tablets, which I like better. I ditch the booklet.
Fröbel’s Gift 7, parquetry, also comes in paper tablets, on the right, which I like better. I ditch the booklet.

 

Froebel's Gift 8, rings, is so much better in metal than colored plastic
Froebel’s Gift 8, rings, is so much better in metal than colored plastic

gift8design

 

Fröbel's Gift 10, the framework, expands into three dimensions; toothpicks and pea-sized balls of modeling clay works
Fröbel’s Gift 10, the framework, expands into three dimensions; toothpicks and pea-sized balls of modeling clay works

 

Lego bricks 2 x 4 in white and light gray; again two colors; I like two tones, so light gray and dark gray would even be better; order online
Lego bricks 2 x 4 size, or 8 stud bricks, in white and light gray in order to keep the pattern distinct; binary tones highlight patterns, subdivisions, and relationships. Light gray and dark gray would be what I would choose if I did it again. I have had the best success on eBay.

Topics Ahead

Here’s a choice for you. One way to proceed is to go now to the next topic in the big navigation window Leadership, because that topic builds off of Design Materials you have just seen. I recommend, however, that you continue to follow my sequence through the big bottom links. That will take you through the other materials and the planning overview. Once the entirety of the environment structure is in mind, then I address facilitation. At that point Leadership in Workstations appears.

  • Writing Materials adds pencil control, scissors, and writing numeral practice.
  • Mathematics Materials shares the advanced materials in number, sorting and classifying, and measurement for five- and six-year-old children, bridging to first grade.
  • Planning and Rotation Scheme presents a simple system for scheduling throughout one year.
Next Writing Materials