Building Challenge Cards with a Magic Theme

Building cards can be created to go along with a number of themes. This set of magic-theme building challenge cards invites children to create magical objects with pattern blocks. Children are asked to select three or four shape cards that represent the shapes they will use to build their selected objects. While it would be great to have a circle or oval to build with, they are not a part of a traditional pattern block set.

The engineering design process will have to be applied to this build.

Ask- What are the constraints or problems that using pattern blocks will cause?
Imagine- How can the available shapes be used to create the rounded edges some of these objects have?
Plan- Decide what shapes you will use and how many of each you will need. Then decide how you will put them together to create the object.
Create- Try to build the object and see if it looks the way you thought it would.
Improve- Decide what will make it better. Then repeat the process if necessary.

Once they have created the object, children can draw them on the recording sheet and record how many of each shape they use. They do not need to do this for each object they create. A favorite creation or one you select may be all you want them to display.