Wreath

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We made a Magna-Tiles Wreath with Eight Right Triangles in the Shape of a Ring!

Magna-Tiles by Valtech Wreath

We often think of an assortment of leaves, flowers, twigs, and fruit as decoration hung on doors, trees, and houses around the holiday season. Are you familiar with the other definitions of Wreath? The first known use of the word is before the 12th century!

From Merriam-Webster.com, Wreath (noun) means:

  1. something intertwined or arranged in a circular shape: as
  • A. a band of intertwined flowers or leaves worn as a mark of honor or victory

  • B. a decorative arrangement of foliage or flowers on a circular base

Magna-Tiles Valtech Wreath 2013

2.  something having a circular or coiling form

Play and LEARN with your children! Discuss where else you see circular shapes throughout your day! Make connections between math and the real world. Do any logos or objects with a Circular Shape come to mind? What about foods like a bagel or donut?!

Here are some ideas from Magna-Tects: an onion ring, the Chase Bank logo, the ring worn on your finger, rings of a tree, and the Olympic Rings!

Learn more about the word Wreath  and view other flat, 2-D Shapes to make with Magna-Tiles!

Magna-Tiles Challenge

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How can we make the same shape using ONLY triangles??

We can use right triangles instead of squares! Two right triangles (parts) cover one small square (whole)!

One right triangle is half of a square. We need four right triangles! Play and LEARN!

Describe what changed from the first to second design.

Show me where there is a vertical line of symmetry.

What Was Up With Pythagoras!?

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Magna-Tiles Math: Challenge your Children! What is the name of this equation?

Pythagorean Theorem

This formula describes how, for any right-angled triangle, the square of the length of they hypotenuse (the longest side of a right triangle) equals the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides.

Answer: The Pythagorean Theorem!

Why is the pythagorean theorem important?

LEARN more about the mathematician Pythagoras!

and about the Pythagorean Theorem from Khan Academy