Boxi Math

Back to Stage 0 / Unit0D · Fit shapes together

Game card for parents · 0D-4 · Ages 4–6 · 10 min

Build My Other Half

Copying a shape as a mirror image across a line is your child's first feel for symmetry.

S-4 Shapes can moveS-5 Patterns can be put into words

You need

  • about 10 building blocks
  • a chopstick, ribbon or strip of tape as the middle line

How to play

  1. Lay the chopstick down as the middle line.
  2. Put 3 or 4 blocks on your side, touching the line.
  3. Your child builds the matching half on their side, like a mirror.
  4. Look at the whole thing together: does it look balanced?

Guess first

Before you build: where do you think this block goes on your side? Point first, then place it.

Three things to ask

  1. How did you know where to put that one?
  2. Which block is furthest from the line?
  3. What could this shape be? A butterfly, a house?

Easier

Use only 2 blocks, both touching the line.

Harder

Put some blocks away from the line, or swap so your child builds first.

Watch for

A very common slip is copying the half exactly instead of mirroring it. Ask, "Which block is next to the line on my side? And on yours?"

boxi-math.github.io · CC BY 4.0 · Boxi Yu