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

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

sticks2

pattern blocks, at least 1000, wood ones can stand on their edge better

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

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

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.

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 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.