Spatial reasoning skills are an important part of students learning geometric thinking. This cognitive process involves constructing mental images of shapes and predicting the effect of rotating or flipping a shape in one’s mind. Reinforcing spatial reasoning skills will also help students develop in other areas as well.
Knowing that it is such an important skill, I decided to make an activity that will help students develop and build on their spatial reasoning abilities. Copy the Grid is a simple, but effective way activity that you can use in your classroom all year:
How It Works
Print out a grid and the task cards of your choice. When I am setting up a math activity, I usually have 6 student spaces at a table, so I printed 6 grids.
I also place the task cards at the table with the material I’ve chosen to use. Students pick a task card, then have to replicate the position of the materials on their own grid.
Materials
I’ve included 3 different materials that can be used with the grids: pompoms, pattern blocks and building cubes. You can reuse this activity all year and switch out the material you are using to keep students engaged.
Differentiated Spatial Reasoning
There are also 3 levels included for each of the materials: 2, 3 or 4 items on the grid. This allows you to build on your student’s ability, you can start off with just a few items on the grid and move up to higher numbers as students build their confidence and ability.
Want to work on your student’s spatial reasoning skills? Take a look at Copy the Grid:
