Become a shape architect! Learn to build bigger shapes from smaller ones, break shapes apart, and create amazing designs. Build your spatial reasoning superpowers!
Combine and create with interactive shape activities!
What shapes make this bigger shape?
Count the pieces!
Which shapes are made of smaller shapes?
Click all correct options
Build your spatial reasoning! Learn to combine and decompose shapes like an architect!
Composing means PUTTING TOGETHER smaller shapes to make a BIGGER shape! Like building with blocks - you combine pieces to create something new. Two triangles can make a square! Three triangles can make a bigger triangle!
💡 Think of composing like building with LEGO - combining small pieces to create bigger structures!
Triangles Make a Square
Put two identical triangles together = one square! The shapes fit perfectly!
Squares Make a Rectangle
Place two squares side by side = one rectangle! Wider than it is tall!
Building a House
Square for the house + triangle for the roof = house shape!
Pattern Block Fun
6 triangles arranged in a circle make a hexagon! Perfect fit!
Leaving gaps between shapes! Shapes must touch edge-to-edge with no spaces!
Decomposing means BREAKING APART a big shape into smaller shapes! It's the opposite of composing. A square can be split into 2 triangles. A hexagon can be split into 6 triangles. Like cutting a sandwich!
💡 Think of decomposing like cutting a pizza - one whole becomes many slices!
Square into Triangles
Cut a square diagonally = 2 triangles! The line splits it perfectly!
Rectangle into Squares
Cut a rectangle in half = 2 squares! (If it's twice as long as it is wide)
Circle into Half Circles
Cut a circle through the center = 2 half circles (semi-circles)!
Hexagon Split
A hexagon can be split into 2 trapezoids, 3 diamonds, or 6 triangles!
Not counting all the pieces! Make sure you see every shape the big shape splits into!
You can create BRAND NEW shapes by combining different shapes! A square + triangle = a house. Circle + rectangle = a lollipop. Let your imagination guide you! Architects do this to design buildings!
💡 Think like an architect - use basic shapes as building blocks to create anything!
House Design
Rectangle (walls) + triangle (roof) + square (window) + rectangle (door) = house!
Robot Builder
Rectangles for body and legs, square for head, circles for eyes = robot!
Tree Shape
Rectangle (trunk) + triangle or circle (leaves) = tree!
Car Design
Rectangle (body) + 2 circles (wheels) + rectangles (windows) = car!
Thinking shapes must be used the 'right' way. Be creative - there's no wrong way to build!
Pattern blocks are special shapes that fit together perfectly! Green triangles, orange squares, blue diamonds, red trapezoids, yellow hexagons, and tan diamonds. They're designed to combine in amazing ways!
💡 Think of pattern blocks like a shape puzzle where pieces fit together in multiple ways!
Hexagon Patterns
6 triangles = 1 hexagon. Or 3 diamonds = 1 hexagon. Or 2 trapezoids = 1 hexagon!
Symmetry Designs
Arrange pattern blocks in mirror patterns - same on both sides! Beautiful designs!
Growing Patterns
Make a flower: hexagon center + 6 triangles around = flower with petals!
Tessellations
Repeat the same pattern over and over to cover a surface - no gaps!
Forcing blocks that don't fit! Pattern blocks have specific angles that work together!
A tangram is a Chinese puzzle with 7 pieces: 5 triangles (2 big, 1 medium, 2 small), 1 square, 1 parallelogram. You can rearrange these 7 pieces to make THOUSANDS of different shapes! Ancient brain teaser!
💡 Think of tangrams like a magic shape transformer - 7 pieces, endless possibilities!
Making Animals
Arrange tangram pieces to make cats, dogs, birds, fish - all from the same 7 pieces!
Making People
Create running, sitting, jumping people figures using the 7 tangram pieces!
Making Objects
Form boats, houses, candles, trees - your imagination is the limit!
Square Challenge
Can you arrange all 7 pieces back into the original square? Tricky puzzle!
Overlapping pieces or leaving gaps. Tangram pieces must touch edge-to-edge perfectly!
Spatial reasoning means thinking about how shapes FIT together in SPACE! Can you rotate this triangle to fit here? Which way should I turn this rectangle? This skill helps with puzzles, building, and even parking cars when you grow up!
💡 Think of spatial reasoning like playing Tetris - figuring out how pieces fit as they fall!
Rotation Practice
Turn a triangle 90 degrees (quarter turn) and it fits in a different spot!
Flip and Fit
Sometimes you need to FLIP a shape (like flipping a pancake) to make it fit!
Puzzle Solving
Look at empty space in a puzzle - what shape would fit? Visualize it!
Mental Math
Imagine combining shapes in your mind before physically moving them!
Giving up too quickly! Spatial skills take practice - keep trying different orientations!
Shape puzzles challenge you to think creatively! Can you make a square using only triangles? Can you build a bigger hexagon from smaller shapes? These challenges strengthen your geometry muscles!
💡 Think of shape challenges like workout exercises for your brain - they make you stronger!
Triangle Challenge
Using 4 small triangles, make one big triangle! Arrange them point-to-point!
Square from Rectangles
Can you make a square using 2 identical rectangles? Yes - place them side by side!
Hexagon Builder
Make a large hexagon using 6 small triangles arranged around a center point!
Shape Art Challenge
Use exactly 10 shapes to create a picture. What can you make?
Thinking there's only one solution! Many shape puzzles have multiple correct answers!
Creative composition means using shapes to EXPRESS yourself! Make art, tell stories, design buildings - all with geometric shapes! Famous artists like Kandinsky and Mondrian used geometric shapes to create masterpieces!
💡 Think of shapes as your art supplies - like crayons, but with geometry!
Shape Portraits
Make a face using circles (eyes), triangle (nose), rectangle (mouth). Shape people!
City Skyline
Build a city with rectangles (buildings), triangles (roofs), squares (windows)!
Nature Scenes
Create trees, flowers, sun, clouds - all from basic shapes! Geometric nature!
Abstract Art
Arrange shapes in interesting patterns - no rules, just creativity!
Being afraid to experiment! There are no mistakes in creative composition - only discoveries!