Find the play mats here!
This activity invites students to build, observe, count, and wonder — all through playful exploration with pattern blocks.
The star begins to “grow” larger and larger in sets of 5.
Students continue adding:
This activity invites students to build, observe, count, and wonder — all through playful exploration with pattern blocks.
What You Need
- Large star cards or play mats
- Pattern blocks
- triangles work beautifully
- rhombuses are fun too!
How to Play
- Start with the Star Points
- Invite students to place: one pattern block on each point of the star
- Then count together: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Keep the Star Growing
Now encourage students to continue the pattern by adding another block outside each point.The star begins to “grow” larger and larger in sets of 5.
Students continue adding:
- another 5
- another 5
- another 5
A Beautiful Exploration of Number
This isn’t meant to be a formal skip-counting lesson.Instead, it’s an opportunity for:
- exploratory math play
- noticing patterns
- counting in meaningful groups
- visualizing growing quantities
- mathematical conversation
- equal groups
- repeated addition
- shape patterns
- growth and change
Guiding Questions to Ask
As students build, you might ask:- “What do you notice happening to the star?”
- “How many blocks are there now?”
- “How many more did you add?”
- “Can you predict how many there will be next?”
- “Which shapes work best?”
- “What patterns can you see?”
- “Is your star getting bigger evenly?”
Extend the Learning
Students could also:
Find it here!
It’s a lovely extension for:calm creative time
- draw their growing stars
- record the totals
- compare different designs
- tell stories about their stars
- create symmetrical patterns
Bonus Fun!
There’s also a Five Star Math Coloring Page waiting for you this week in the Pond Coloring ClubFind it here!
It’s a lovely extension for:calm creative time
- math/art connections
- fine motor practice
- pattern exploration
