"What shape does this block look like from the side?"
"From above, it looks different than before!"
When playing with building blocks, children sometimes notice that shapes change depending on the viewing angle.
In elementary school, children learn about three-dimensional shapes such as cubes and rectangular prisms, and their "nets" (unfolded shapes).
However, the foundation for this is
"the ability to view three-dimensional objects from various directions."
Through block play, children can naturally develop spatial reasoning by physically touching, rotating, and stacking three-dimensional objects.
This time, we will introduce age-appropriate games using building blocks to cultivate a sense of "three-dimensional shapes and nets."
What are 3D shapes and nets?
A three-dimensional shape is a shape with length, width, and height.
For example:
- Cubes
- Rectangular prisms
- Triangular prisms
and so on.
A "net" is the shape formed when a three-dimensional object is cut open and laid flat.
During infancy, there is no need to learn the term "net."
First, it is important to have many experiences such as:
- Looking from the front
- Looking from the side
- Looking from above
- Turning it around
Building blocks are perfect for deepening understanding of 3D shapes because they can be freely rotated and stacked.
Building blocks are perfect for deepening understanding of 3D shapes because they can be freely rotated and stacked.
【Ages 0-1】Let's look at building blocks from different directions
At this age, it's most important for them to freely touch the blocks.
＜Recommended Play＞
Let's roll them around
Roll the building blocks in your hands.
Play while saying, "It looks different when you turn it!"
Play while speaking.
Let's stack blocks
While repeatedly stacking and knocking them down,
"It got tall!"
"What does it look like from the side?"
Let's look at it together.
【Ages 2-3】Try changing your viewing angle
This is the age to enjoy how shapes change depending on the viewing position.
＜Recommended Play＞
Let's look from above
After arranging the building blocks,
Try squatting down to look from the side,
or standing up to look from above.
"It looks different now!"
Let's enjoy the discovery.
Let's walk all the way around
After building a house or tower with blocks, parents and children can walk all the way around the creation.
"From the front, it looks like a house!"
"It looks thin from the side."
"From the back, it looks like a different shape!"
Let's experience how the appearance changes depending on the viewing location.
【Ages 4-5】Imagine 3D shapes
This is a period when spatial reasoning develops significantly.
＜Recommended Play＞
Copy and build
The parent creates a simple shape with building blocks.
The child then uses other building blocks to create the same shape.
Once complete, compare them from the front, side, and top.
Let's draw the shape seen from above
After arranging the blocks,
try drawing the shape seen from above on paper.
The experience of "drawing only the visible blocks" leads to the ability to represent 3D shapes in 2D.
Let's open a box
Carefully open an empty box together with a parent.
"When you open a box, it becomes a single sheet of paper!"
Let's enjoy the discovery.
Experiencing how a 3D shape becomes a flat shape fosters a sense that leads to understanding nets.
Tip! Think of a net as "opening a box."
The term "net" may sound difficult, but it's actually something familiar.
For example, snack and tissue boxes are originally made by assembling a single piece of paper.
If you open up a used box, you'll discover,
"So it was this shape!"
You'll find something new.
While looking at building blocks,
"What shape would this cube make if we made it out of paper?"
Just imagining this together with your child can greatly expand their interest in three-dimensional shapes.
【Ages 5-6】Challenge 3D shapes and nets!
Recommended for around kindergarten entry.
＜Recommended Play＞
Try changing your viewing position
After creating something with building blocks,
"What shape is it from above?"
"What does it look like from the side?"
"How many can you see from the front?"
Predict, then actually change your viewing position to check.
Children can experience how the visible shape changes depending on the viewing direction while playing.
Let's make the same shape as in the picture
The parent creates a simple construction with building blocks and takes a photo from directly in front.
The child tries to recreate the same shape by looking only at the photo.
Once completed,
"What did it look like from the side or back?"
Let's check it together.
By imagining the parts not shown in the photo, spatial reasoning develops.
Let's make a net
Pick up a building block cube,
"What shape would this block make if we made it out of paper?"
Let's think about it together as a parent and child.
You can draw **six connected squares (a net)** on origami paper or drawing paper, cut it out with an adult, and assemble it to create a cube.
Once completed,
"It really turned out to be the same shape as the block!"
"If I open it again, it goes back to being a net!"
Let's confirm the relationship between the 3D shape and its net.
Also, when first trying this, they might arrange the squares in a single row for the net and then wonder, "Huh? It doesn't work?" when trying to assemble it. However, such experiences where "the result was different than expected" are very important in the learning process.
Support your child to think for themselves, asking, "What else needs to be done to make a cube?"
Furthermore,
"What shape would a rectangular prism be?"
"What shape of paper is a triangular prism made from?"
Thinking about this further deepens their understanding of 3D shapes.
Even if the final shape is the same, there are multiple patterns for nets.
In fact, there are 11 types of nets for a cube, so it might be fun to challenge yourselves to find all the patterns!
※ When using scissors, please do so safely with a parent.
Block play is a warm-up for "3D shapes and nets."
Through block play,
✔ View from various directions
✔ Change orientation
✔ Stack
✔ Imagine 3D shapes
✔ Notice the difference from 2D
✔ Develop spatial reasoning
Children can develop various skills that lead to elementary school math.
By freely manipulating building blocks, children discover, "3D shapes are interesting!" and "The shape changes depending on how you look at it!"
Summary
Three-dimensional shapes and nets are topics in elementary school geometry that require strong visualization skills.
In early childhood, rather than memorizing names and formulas,
"It looks like this from the front!"
"It looks different from the side!"
"You can also make 3D shapes from flat paper!"
Accumulating such experiences is the first step in developing spatial reasoning.
Tsumiki-zu's building blocks are characterized by their ability to freely combine various three-dimensional shapes such as cubes, rectangular prisms, and triangular prisms.
By playing while enjoying conversations like "What does it look like from where?" and "What shape would this 3D object make if we made it out of paper?" with your child, you can naturally foster not only an understanding of 3D shapes and nets, but also observation skills and thinking abilities.
Please enjoy the world of "3D shapes and nets" with your child using building blocks.