INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING PATTERN BLOCKS.MYW

1.  If you are reading this using Windows Notepad, make sure you have activated Word Wrap (from the Edit menu).

2.  The file PATTERN BLOCKS.MYW requires My World version 3.  If you haven't got this then you are missing out on a excellent package which can be used right across the primary curriculum.  
    You can find further details at
		www.dialsolutions.com

3.  Download or copy the file to the location where you keep all of your My World screens and then load the screen in the same way that you load others that you use (there are several different ways of loading My World screens; see the My World Help facility for further details).

4.  The screen is designed to run with a screen resolution of 800x600 or higher.  If you are only using 640x480 then you will have to do a lot of scrolling left/right and up/down.
    Like all My World screens, it can be made to fill the whole screen (CTRL-F to toggle this on and off) but things are slower and not so smooth in full-screen mode.

5.  The screen can be used by individual pupils or pairs of pupils working together at the computer.  Very young pupils can use it make patterns, shapes and pictures which can be printed out or saved in the usual way.  As well as developing their spatial awareness it also provides an opportunity to develop simple mouse skills.  Older pupils can make shapes and patterns to a particular specification e.g. a repeating pattern, a pattern with exactly 2 lines of symmetry, a pattern with rotational symmetry etc.

6.  The procedures can also be used by the teacher with the whole class gathered around the computer.  Use the screen to give demonstrations and generate discussions on topics such as:
    - size and colour
    - repeating patterns
    - line symmetry and rotational symmetry
    - rotations and reflections (use the 'rotate' and 'flip' buttons)
    - area (If the green triangle has a size of 1, what are the sizes of the other shapes?  Demonstrate by fitting green triangles on top of the other shapes e.g. the hexagon has a size of 6).
    - angles (fit corners of a shape around a single point and therefore work out what fraction of a full turn each angle represents e.g. the sharp corner of the brown rhombus is one-twelfth of a full turn).
    - fractions (make a pattern and ask appropriate questions such as "What fraction of this shape is green?  What fraction is blue? etc.  Fit shapes on top of one another to aid your explanations and discussions).


I hope you find this screen useful.
Let me know how you get on.

Richard English
www.numeracysoftware.com
feedback@numeracysoftware.com