The Magic of Constructive Triangles

Look at what triangles can do!

 My love of the Constructive Triangles has lasted for almost 20 years and I don't see an end in sight! 

Some of us are well versed in the 5 (sometimes 6 depending on your training) boxes each filled with very specific triangles.  From my experience, my students always loved them, that may be in part because I loved them too! When I was coaching in 3-6 classrooms, I saw these boxes out and in use, which is lovely, but by children who were not prepared for them.  One guide, who gave them to her brand new 3-year-olds said, "but it is just matching black lines, any child can do that."

And she was partially correct-most children can match the black lines, but that is not the purpose/aim/or preparation for the material.  Constructive Triangles are an intelligent exploration of the triangle as the constructor of shape.  For this, the child needs to know the names of the shapes and triangles from the Geometry Cabinet. When children work with the cabinet they are feeling and tracing shapes, gaining that sensory impression of the nature of each shape, while also learning the names.  This is deeper than just knowing the names...the children know them by heart, by sight, and by touch.

Now we have an individual who is ready for exploration and discovery! The triangles they know so well slowly come together and create a whole new shape! A new shape that they know! The triangles transformed into something very different!  THIS is the magic of the constructive triangles and something that is missed if a child is simply matching black lines. There is a reason these are for a child around the age of four, it takes some time to prepare

Have you been to the Shop lately?  

My daughter and I have been working on new offerings! Come by and check them out!