— November 1, 2024

There are many pattern block printables featuring various designs within a theme. I do encourage you to look for more if your child shows a particular interest and works through these. Many are free with a little searching. I include links to a few favorites at the end of this post. The reason this printable stands out though is because of the real world geometry it brings to the manipulative.

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Why use pattern blocks in your homeschool for preschool?

Pattern blocks are a great manipulative to teach concepts of art, math and more. They’re perfect for early learning of patterns and geometry, specifically real world geometry. Later they are excellent for fractions and experimenting with designs and symmetry.

We have these pattern blocks that I use for all my kiddos. We use them to simply entertain when other siblings are working on their lesson or to replicate real world geometry patterns like in today’s activity. 

This preschool printable teaches real world geometry.

These pattern blocks have been specifically used in a quilt theme because quilts are simply various shapes sewn together. Some are basic, such as a square quilt pattern. While others like the Celtic Square Block Pattern or Bear Paw Block  are more complicated. There are countless quilting patterns all utilizing real world geometry to fit shapes together to create something that is useful and beautiful.

This printable is more than just about drilling more math concepts into your child’s head. It’s truly about the application of real world geometry in quilts. How we can use geometry to meet our needs. That is what makes this printable great! But with it being about more than math we need additional information about these special blankets. Below are some ideas to do just that and help your child make connections of real world geometry and quilts.

Preload with Letter of the Week: Qq is for Quilt activities.

Unless you use the word quilt regularly around your child they may not know what a quilt is. Or you may use it but the term seems interchangeable with the word blanket. With either case, if you haven’t defined what a quilt is then you may want to spend some time preloading this activity with some information about quilts. 

In the home.

One of the best and most simple ways to do this is by reading children’s books that focus on quilts. A couple favorite’s in our home are, The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy and The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau. The boys and I enjoy reading these anytime but I make sure to pull them out for the morning basket during the week we learn letter Q. More book suggestions are offered by visiting the button below.

Another activity we enjoy is practicing sewing with a hoop, plastic needle, and yarn. The goal behind this is to give your child hands-on experience with sewing and no expectations then to push a needle up and down through fabric. Once the boys finish their sewing project I like to leave the fabric in the hoop and hang it on our art wall. Read more about this activity by following the link here. The books and activity will help your child understand sewing better and how quilts are real world geometry applied.

Go on a field trip to a quilt shop to see real world geometry all around you.

Quilt shops have all the odds and ends, countless fabrics, usually sewing machines, and finished products all out to peruse. Take your child into a local shop if possible and allow them to see what a completed quilt began as. And if you do not have quilts in your home, you can then allow them to examine one in person.

The perfect free pattern blocks printable for teaching real world geometry.

Now that we have explored what a quilt is we can draw attention to the pattern designs. And an excellent way to do that is with this real world geometry printable. The printable features a child tucked into bed under a quilt. Various designs are offered on the different cards.

Have your child tackle one card at a time and offer guidance as needed. If you wish to challenge your child even further, ask them to develop the pattern out further. Whether that means they follow the current pattern or expand upon it using their own imagination. Let them know they are making their own quilt designs.

Additional free printables for pattern blocks.

• Animals
• Winter patterns
• Summer patterns
• Challenge your older preschooler with symmetry mats.

Make preschool and pre k math play based with real world geometry.

The real world geometry themed pattern blocks printable can be used as a simple math lesson or it can be expanded into a learning experience all about quilts. Especially how geometry is used to create beautiful quilt patterns. 

If this printable is the bee’s knees please leave a comment and let me know. Also, be sure to check out Qq is for Quilt where there is also an easy blanket that your child can make with you. It comes together in under an hour if the whole family works on it or you can stretch it out over a few days for just you and your preschooler. No sewing involved!

Letter of the Week

Qq is for Quilt is part of a 26-week curriculum. Every letter is themed and focuses on learning the alphabet. On top of that are play based learning activities that use art, math, science, and more to engage with your child and allow them to expand their horizons. You’ll find coloring pages, book suggestions, free printables, and activities for every letter. Check it out at the button below. It’s all free!