During Math Center, the youngest students have started out this school year exploring math materials.  We began with looking at and playing with cubes and parquetry pieces.  Students were given time to build, explore, play and describe what their pieces could make.  Then we had a discussion about the differences between the cubes and parquetry pieces.  
During our next center, each student was given 15 blocks and had to use at least 10 to build anything they wanted.  After their masterpiece was complete, they had to switch with a partner and “copy” their partner’s design.  Designs ranged from a U shape to a “car”.  The students then played this copy cubes game the following week on their contract.  
Our latest center has been exploring the parquetry pieces more.  Students made a shape book tracing and labeling each shape.  They were then given a puzzle to cover with shapes.  In these photos, students are working on counting out how many hexagons, triangles, squares, rhombuses and/or trapezoids it takes to cover a puzzle.