forest Archives - JDaniel4s Mom

Helping Your Children Explore the Woodland STEM Challenges on the Mats

Review the Shapes

Before your children explore the mats, you may want to review each of the pattern block shapes. While they don’t have to know each shape’s name to build the animal, it would be a good thing for them to know.

Counting the Shapes

Each of the shape mats indicates how many of each shape children will need. Some children will be able to find and count the shapes on their own. However, there will be some who need you to count the blocks with them.

Build Pattern Block Animals

The woodland animals STEM challenge mats were not designed to have the blocks fit right on each animal. They were designed to have the animal built beside the animals on the page. This way children can refer to the picture while they build.

Getting the Woodland Animals Build Pattern Block Challenges

First, you will need to download the set.

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you must go to your download file and open the page. You may be asked if you want the file to open right after you download it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

Pattern Block Suggestions

Below you will see a variety of sets of pattern blocks. Some of them are plastic and others are wooden. While you could print out a set of paper pattern blocks, these sets will be easier for your children to use.

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Your children will enjoy exploring the directed drawing ideas available in this free set. The set features forest animals. You will find an owl drawing set. After that, you will find a raccoon and a rabbit. The directions on each of the directed drawing worksheets feature Blockly blocks. (Blockly blocks are a coding language featured on Code.org and Scratch.) Each set has a worksheet that features only pictures. You will also find a set that features pictures and words.

Wait! What is Blockly code?

Blockly is a visual coding language. It features coding blocks that can be stacked to create an algorithm or series of steps.

Now Tell Me About Algorithms

Algorithms are a set of directions or a series of steps a computer is given to complete a task. You need to put the directions or series of steps in order to accurately complete a task. If you don’t do what needs to be done first, second, and third, in that order things can go wrong.

Let’s look at getting cereal ready to eat. If you pour the milk in the bowl before adding cereal, things will be okay. If you pour the milk before taking out a bowl, you will have a big mess. The correct order of steps in a task is super important.

When your children work on these directed drawing ideas, there are some steps that could be done out of order. Other steps can’t be done out of order. You will probably want to encourage them to follow the steps in order.

Building Background

You may want your children to read a book about forest animals before they start drawing. Here are some wonderful books about forest animals.

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Getting Ready to Explore the Directed Drawing Ideas

First, you will need to download the How to Draw Forest Animals with an Algorithm. Warning! This set is a PDF. You need to have Acrobat Reader or another PDF reader to open the set.
Second, you will need to open the set and decide which animals you want your children to draw.
Third, you will need to decide which version of the worksheets your children need. Some children may need the word version to know what to draw. They may not notice what has been added to the animal in each step. Other children will find the words a distraction and will do better without them on the page.

Exploring the Worksheets

You can decide if you want to have the children work on the drawing ideas on their own or with you. If you know that your children will have trouble following the algorithm or steps, then you will want them to work with you. They can work on them on their own. When they are done, you can check to make sure they haven’t skipped a step.