Pattern Making
PlayMais is an easy medium to use for making patterns. If a mistake is made the piece can be lifted off and re-sited. Arranging the shapes in patterns is a problem-solving exercise as well as developing artistic skills such as understanding pattern, balance, line and use of colour. To be able to compare patterns later it is best to use squares of paper which are the same size e.g. 12x12cm.
Stage 1: Arrange PlayMais bricks in rows, aligned and evenly spaced. Bricks should be all the same colour.
Stage 2: Vary the way the bricks are laid e.g. first row vertically, second horizontally. Experiment with diagonal patterns, forming squares, triangles etc.
Stage 3: Introduce colour variations e.g. pink, white, pink, white. Progress to more complex repeat colour patterns e.g. yellow, green, green, blue/ yellow, green, green, blue. Study how a change in colour appears to make the same pattern look larger/smaller; more/less distinct; makes some shapes stand out more clearly from the background than others.
Stage 4: Make patterns with pieces cut from PlayMais bricks e.g. slices cut from across the cylinder or long strips cut lengthways. Strips could also be cut from KraftIT. Progress to using combinations of shapes and of colour.
Stage 5: Overlap shapes to build up more complex patterns. Study mirror patterns and rotation.
An eye-catching way to display the finished patterns is to group them all together to make a patchwork quilt.