Tangram Tile Activity

Count out a set of one to ten identical blocks to match a printed numeral

Identify the pictured tile types by shape and colour, including the two differently shaped rhombus/diamond tiles

Recognise the digits 1 through 10 in order, meeting each digit next to the quantity it stands for

Each card names the exact block wanted, so check the set on hand before the lesson: it needs up to five yellow hexagons plus blue rhombuses, orange squares, red trapezoids, green triangles and white diamonds

The shape stays constant for the first five numbers and only changes from six onward, which gives a settled start before colour and shape both begin to vary

The cards picture and label each group. Pair them with matching tiles so children can compare a concrete set with the picture and numeral

Counting to ten with objects - each card gives a numeral from 1 to 10 and names the block to count out, so a child builds the set rather than reading about it.

Naming tile shapes - the cards use hexagon, rhombus, square, trapezoid, triangle and diamond as shape words, one per number from six onward.

Attending to two attributes at once - every block is named by colour and shape together (yellow hexagon, blue rhombuses, orange square's, red trapezoid's), so choosing the right tile means matching both.