Games with Dienesha blocks in older preschool age

The Hungarian psychologist and teacher has developed wonderful exercises and games that promote the development of mathematical concepts, as well as creative and logical thinking. Work on getting to know blocks begins in the second junior group, where kids identify one feature of an object. In the middle group, the tasks become more complicated, symbol cards appear, with the help of which children select the necessary figures. What games can be used with Dienesh blocks in older preschool age?

Dienesha blocks for preschool children

Dienesh blocks look like three-dimensional geometric objects, reminiscent of those from which children usually build houses. However, this is not just a construction set, but material for a whole series of educational and educational games.

The set includes 48 non-repeating shapes. Each object differs from the others in at least one of 4 parameters:

• geometry - circle, square, triangle, rectangle;
• color – red, blue, yellow;
• size – large, small;
• volume - thick, thin.

That is, the set consists of 4 groups of figures of 12 pieces each. Groups of Dienesh blocks allow you to organize many exciting games that teach preschoolers to analyze, compare, generalize, and classify information. The set is supplemented with cards with illustrative, schematic and template images, as well as descriptions of tasks.

Ready-made cards and assignments are in demand; with their help, it is easier for a preschooler to get acquainted with geometric shapes. Based on the schematic image, the child makes a picture. Younger children place blocks directly on the diagram. Older preschoolers lay out the figures next to the schematic image.

The method was invented by educational psychologist Zoltan Dienes. It is an entertaining game form for developing mathematical thinking in children. According to the famous teacher, mastering mathematics is only effective when the child does not get bored. It is difficult for a preschooler to fix information in his mind when he has to listen for a long time and strain his brain. And the game method allows the child to absorb and remember information without stress and fatigue.

The method of teacher Dienesh develops mathematical thinking. For the comprehensive development of a child, it is necessary to use other teaching methods.

Dienesh's method involves 6 learning stages, depending on the age abilities of the children:

• a game without rules - the child learns to work with blocks, he develops mathematical concepts;
• playing by the rules;
• lesson with comparative analysis;
• representation – the child plays in accordance with the proposed methods, focusing on the acquired knowledge;
• creative activities conducted in accordance with logical concepts;
• formalization is that level of classes at which a preschooler is already able to draw conclusions and justifications.

Games with hoops and Dienesha blocks

A special section in Dienesh’s methodology is devoted to games with hoops, which also begin with completing simple tasks and gradually become more complex, allowing the teacher to develop analytical thinking, mental flexibility and speed of reaction in future schoolchildren.

"Game with one hoop"

There is a hoop on the floor. Each child has one block in his hand. Children take turns placing blocks in accordance with the leader’s instructions. For example, inside the hoop are all red blocks, and outside the hoop are all the rest. Children are asked questions: What blocks are inside the hoop? (Reds). Which blocks were outside the hoop? (Non-red). This is the correct answer, because... the only important thing is that all the red blocks are inside the hoop and there are no others there, and the properties of the blocks outside the hoop are determined through the properties of those that lie inside. When repeating the game, children can choose for themselves which blocks to put inside, outside, and then determine to each other in one word the shapes outside the hoop.

"Game with two hoops"

There are two multi-colored hoops on the floor (blue and red), the hoops intersect, so they have a common part. The presenter invites someone to stand inside the blue hoop, inside the red hoop, inside both hoops, outside the red hoop, inside the blue but outside the red, inside the red but outside the blue, outside the blue and red hoops.

Then the children arrange the blocks so that all the round blocks are inside the blue hoop, and all the red ones are inside the red hoop.

At first, the problem is where to put the red and round blocks. Their place is in the common part of the two hoops. After completing the practical task of arranging blocks, children answer four questions:

1. What blocks are inside both hoops?
2. Inside the blue but outside the red hoop?
3. Inside red but outside blue?
4. Outside both hoops?

It should be emphasized that the blocks must be named here using two properties - shape and color.

"Game with three hoops"

During the game with three hoops, the task of classifying blocks according to three properties is solved, which is more complex than in the game with two hoops. The presenter places three multi-colored (red, blue, yellow) hoops on the floor as shown in the figure, i.e. to form 8 regions.

Once these areas are named appropriately in relation to the hoops (inside all three hoops, inside red and blue, but outside yellow, etc.), it is proposed to arrange the blocks, for example, so that all the red blocks are inside the red hoop, inside the blue they are all square, and inside the yellow they are all big.

After completing the practical task, children answer eight questions (standard for any version of the game with three hoops).

• What blocks are inside all three hoops?
• What blocks are inside the red and blue hoop, but outside the yellow hoop?
• What blocks are inside the blue and yellow hoop, but outside the red hoop?
• What blocks are inside the red and yellow hoop, but outside the blue hoop?
• What blocks are inside the red hoop, but outside the blue and outside the yellow hoop?
• What blocks are inside the blue hoop but outside the yellow and red hoop?
• What blocks are inside the yellow hoop, but outside the red and outside the blue hoop?
• Which blocks are outside all three hoops?

The game with three hoops models the partition of a set into eight classes (pairwise disjoint subsets) using three properties (being red, being square, being large). [ads2] Games with Dienesh blocks in older preschool age do not require special preparation, you only need to prepare special cards for joint and individual work. You can download an archive with cards for games with Dienesh blocks, which contains symbol cards and negation cards, as well as cards for the games “Guess the Riddle”, “Rest the Tenants”, “Logic Tables” of different difficulty levels.

Goals and objectives

Young children have no problem mastering arithmetic, but they struggle with abstract thinking. When searching for information, a child tends to rely on patterns, but this does not always work out. Dienesh invented a technique through which preschoolers learn about abstract concepts by visualizing them. Dienesh's math blocks are an easy-to-understand and fun way to prepare for school.

The purpose of Dienesh's games is to develop logical and mathematical thinking among kindergarteners and primary schoolchildren.

Tasks:

• training in the skill of analyzing forms, comparing them according to certain parameters;
• creative and intellectual development;
• developing the ability to think logically, build chains of thoughts, and make assumptions;
• formation of responsibility, perseverance, diligence;
• speech development, expansion of individual vocabulary.

The use of Dienesh blocks is relevant in kindergartens and grades 1-2 of primary school. That is, classes are intended for children 2-8 years old.

Dienesh's Original Theory: Six Steps to Learning Math Concepts for Kids

Zoltan Dienes is a famous Hungarian mathematician, practicing teacher and psychologist, who radically changed the stereotypical perception of mathematics as a routine and uncreative scientific discipline. Z. Dienesh's gaming methodology is aimed at helping children of preschool and primary school age to master a variety of mathematical concepts in an entertaining way, to form and develop the most important intellectual skills and psychological processes necessary for independent logical thinking.

Personal teaching experience and knowledge in the field of developmental child psychology helped Z. Dienesh to invent and implement the concept of six steps of learning mathematics for the little ones. In addition, the theory received original methodological equipment with a complex of didactic materials in the form of additional game aids and visual logical blocks, which became an effective tool for the development of the creative and mental potential of children. The methodology is used both in official pedagogy and in the self-education system.

The use of Dienesh's logical blocks in the development of logical and mathematical thinking in preschool children

The idea of ​​six steps for mastering mathematical knowledge and skills has undergone successful practical testing and proven its effectiveness. The substantive features of each stage received their own name:

1. Free creative play. The content of this phase consists of the teacher setting a specific task for the child. In search of a solution, the child goes through spontaneous options and experimentally finds the correct answer. This is the stage of introducing the child to the task that needs to be resolved. This is how a child begins to learn mathematical wisdom.
2. Rules of the game. Having overcome the stage of trial and error, the baby begins the second phase - learning the rules of the game. It is important for a teacher or parent to correctly and clearly convey to the child’s mind the most important information about the rules for achieving the desired result.
3. Matching phase. Taking the third step, the child faces the need to perform the mental operation of comparison. The author of the method invites adults to test the idea of ​​several games with similar meanings, but with different didactic material, in games with children. For example, first we play with blocks, then we cut out animal figures or lay out geometric shapes. We must see that the child independently solves the algorithm for correctly achieving the goal, regardless of the game material. In this way, you can make sure that the baby’s intellectual actions are meaningful and are not the result of mechanical memorization and automatic reproduction. This stage is necessary for the development of abstract thinking abilities.
4. Introducing the abstract number symbol. At the fourth stage, various diagrams, maps and game tables will be in demand for the development of visual perception, the formation of visualization skills, and familiarization with the abstract meaning of numbers.
5. Symbolic stage. The fifth step leads the child to the conclusion that the logical chains of various game series lead to a common result. To understand game cards, a special language of symbols is needed, which the child himself creates during the lessons.
6. Stage of independent conclusions. The final stage will be the longest. The child, with the help of an adult, studies the meaning of the terms axiom and theorem, and independently draws the necessary logical conclusions based on the description of the rules of playing cards.

The possibilities of the manual are not limited to classes on the formation of basic mathematical knowledge; you can play Dienish games while learning English. Preschoolers post images, selecting the desired shapes and commenting on their actions (“big blue triangle”, “little yellow square”)

Dienisch developed his methodology for children in the age range from two to eight years, taking into account intellectual and psychological characteristics, so mathematical lessons are perceived with enthusiasm and passion. Adults need to be patient in studying the theoretical part of the method, as well as understand the set of teaching aids. The child’s developed ability to quickly and freely cope with complex mental exercises will be a worthy reward for parents and educators for their diligence and perseverance.

Junior group

For children of a younger age group, primitive games are suitable, in which you need to group and separate objects according to parameters.

Find the same one

The teacher shows the figure. The player must find the same object based on one parameter: geometry or color. For example: a yellow triangle is shown. This means you need to find either red and blue triangles, or other yellow shapes.

Find something different

The opposite of the previous task. It is required to find figures that differ from the demonstrated element in a certain parameter: size, color, geometry.

Plant in the beds

For the game you need to prepare improvised beds. The blocks will be vegetable seeds. The teacher gives the task to plant the seeds in certain beds. For example, for the first bed - small and red, for the second - square and yellow.

Feed the toys

To play, you need to place dolls or soft toys on the table. Dienesh blocks will be food. The teacher explains that toys want to eat, but each of them has its own food. For example, a teddy bear eats large yellow figures, and the Masha doll eats small blue ones. The players’ task is to choose the right blocks for each toy.

Middle group

Middle age preschoolers can play with diagrams and pictures. It is advisable to choose creative games with Dienesh blocks so that students use their imagination as much as possible.

Game with pictures

To play, you need to buy or print color pictures depicting different objects in a geometric representation. The child’s task is to correctly place the blocks on the picture. For example, the car wheel shown is a circle. This means you need to apply a round block.

Build a row

The game greatly develops the ability to analyze.

You need to place several blocks so that a clear sequence is formed. The player must understand which piece to place next. For example, a red circle followed by a blue one. Therefore, the third one will be the yellow circle. Or this combination: circle, square, triangle - all red. This means that the fourth figure will be a red rectangle.

What's extra

The game teaches you to group objects according to certain characteristics.

The teacher lays out 3 or 4 figures in front of the child. One should be superfluous, that is, not having a single common feature with the others. The player must point to the wrong object and explain his decision.

When the child begins to cope with it with ease, complicate the task: put 6 figures, of which two should be incorrect.

Point to an object with "not"

The teacher lays out the blocks and names signs with negation. And children must point to the corresponding objects. For example, “this figure is not red” or “this is not a triangle.”

Fix the bridge

To play, you need to prepare cards depicting geometric shapes, indicating their colors and sizes. And also similar cards, but with crossed out images, meaning that the block should not have such signs.

The teacher tells a story about how a bridge broke between the houses of two fairy-tale characters, and the neighbors can no longer see each other. The students' task is to repair the bridge. Only the “bricks” need to be laid not at random, but according to a certain rule, then the structure will be strong and will no longer break.

Next, the teacher shows 1-2 cards with parameters, and the children choose the appropriate “bricks”. For example, cards are shown with a crossed out triangle and an uncrossed red color. This means that the next “brick” for the bridge must be red, but cannot be a triangle.

Which figure disappeared

The game strengthens memory and concentration.

The teacher lays out several blocks in a row. The child tries to remember the sequence, then closes his eyes. The teacher removes one element of the sequence. The pupil, having opened his eyes, must remember what figure was in the place where it is now empty.

The game can be a little more complicated: do not leave an empty space, but replace the removed block with another. Then the player’s task becomes to return a number of figures to their original form. If the child copes well, you can complicate it even more: replace not one, but 2-3 objects.

Constructor

Children love to play with Dienesh blocks as if they were construction sets. This game develops imagination and creative thinking.

Children construct something at the suggestion of the teacher or at their own request. To begin, have students practice constructing using a visual diagram. Then they must use their imagination.

Didactic material by Z. Dienesh

Author's logic blocks will introduce your child to the world of shape, color and size during casual mathematical play. The value of the didactic material of Z. Dienis:

• The most important psychological indicators of the development of logic and concentration, imagination, non-standard thinking and memory will receive an additional incentive for development.
• Working with the author's visual aids will develop speech, develop analysis and systematization skills, teach how to summarize information, and reveal the child's creative potential.

Each figure is characterized by four properties. The main goal is to teach the child to solve logical problems involving partitioning by properties

Flat version of Dienesh blocks. The kits can be widely used for: introducing children to standards of forms, teaching actions with standards. Cubes whose sides contain coded properties (shape, color, size, thickness) and the negation of properties (crossed out sign) Cubes whose sides contain properties, negation of properties. as well as numbers from three to eight Cards contain encoded information about the properties of an object The child takes a card with an example, solves it by decoding and selects the corresponding block

Schemes for making cakes The child places the selected block on the diagram with images of objects under the number that he determined as a result of solving the example on the card

The game “find a house for a lost figure”, in some houses one figure can live, in others - several Each ball is selected by solving a symbol card Correct decoding of information will allow you to select the necessary blocks and figures

Each page of the album is an illustration on which the child will have to place blocks of the appropriate color, size and shape according to the example: Option 1 - offer to move one resident into each apartment, Option 2 - two residents into each apartment. You can easily draw such a diagram yourself

This is how you can draw a symbol card by hand

At home, the album can be replaced with regular coloring

Scheme for making logical figures

Parameters of the sides of logical figures

Math blocks

The classic set of teaching blocks includes 48 parts of various colors, sizes and shapes. The elements are made in accordance with the main list of geometric shapes and have the following characteristics:

• Four block shapes: square, round, triangle and rectangle;
• Three color options: blue, red and yellow.
• Two thickness options: thick, thin;
• Two size options: large, small.

It is also fundamentally important that the set does not contain identical geometric blocks.

Video: Gyenes Logic Blocks

https://youtube.com/watch?v=CV_PU3fUuf0

Logical figures

One set for organizing classes in a small subgroup contains 24 flat figures, which include an equal number (6 elements each) of squares, triangles, rectangles and circles, as well as blocks of different colors (red, yellow, blue) and size (large, small). A visual aid with logical figures is necessary for working with the concept of a form standard and learning to manipulate standards.

Logic cubes

Cubes, the sides of which contain a coded image of characteristics (shape, color, size, thickness) and the negation of properties (a crossed out sign), as well as a cube with numbers from three to eight on each side. This didactic material is important for mastering the mental operations of substitution, symbolic encryption, decoding, and spatial modeling. The originality of logic cubes lies in the variability of the spontaneous choice of properties, which is made by tossing the cube, and this always causes delight and interest in children.

To complete the task, the child must master the skills of decoding the symbols depicted on the faces of the logic cube

Cards with symbolic transmission of information about the properties of an object, as well as arithmetic examples.

• It will help the child to master the cultural tradition of symbolic, encoded in a symbol, transmission of information about the characteristics of an object.
• Will develop the ability to perform abstract mental operations and decipher symbols.
• Builds mental arithmetic skills.

Albums, algorithmic schemes

The goal is to teach the child to strictly follow the rules and strictly follow the prescribed sequence of steps. Schematically indicate the path that needs to be taken to solve the problem.

Ribbons or hoops can serve as additional didactic tools for defining the playing area; with their help, you can expand the range of exercise options, make them more varied and exciting.

Do-it-yourself materials by Z. Dienis

Most of the games can be played using flat figures, and they can be cut out of cardboard, colored paper, painted with colored pencils or paints; variants of card schemes can also be invented independently, by analogy with ready-made ones, and drawn by hand. If it is difficult to find sets of additional cards or albums on sale, then you can print algorithmic or digital cards or album options on a color printer.

Each page of the album is an illustration on which the child will have to place blocks of the appropriate color, size and shape according to the pattern. The pictures are structured according to the principle “from simple to complex” - at the beginning there are pictures consisting of a minimum number of details

Senior group

Dienesh's logic blocks help kindergarteners preparing for school to improve their math skills. Children learn to count, compare, and contrast.

House

To play, draw a diagram of a house. In every room there lives a geometric figure, you need to draw it there. Certain blocks should not live in some rooms; crossed out figures should be drawn there. The pupils’ task is to correctly distribute the blocks among the rooms.

Shop

Make a makeshift store for the game. Let the goods be toys, treats, and stationery. And money is Dienesh’s blocks.

The teacher distributes blocks to the children. Then he says which product costs how much. For example, for a teddy bear you need to pay two triangles. A child, looking at his “money,” understands whether he can afford to buy this product.

Price requirements should gradually become more complex. First, the colors of the blocks are added to the price, then the sizes. For example, “for a doll you need to pay a blue rectangle” or “a box of pencils costs two large circles of yellow and red colors.”

Domino

Blocks are distributed equally between players. The first participant, chosen by lot, places a piece on the table. The next player must place a block that matches the first one in one of the indicators: color, shape or size. If there is no such block, you will have to skip a move. The winner is the player who gets rid of all his pieces first.

Christmas tree

The game develops the skill of counting in order and navigating through schematic images. For this lesson you need to prepare a picture of a Christmas tree and 15 character cards. Dienesh blocks will be Christmas balls.

To decorate the spruce, 15 balls are used: 5 rows of 3 pieces. On the cards, numbers indicate row numbers, and one of the 3 circles filled in indicates the location of the ball in the row. At the bottom of the picture it is indicated which geometric figure will represent a particular Christmas ball.

Find the treasure

The teacher places blocks in front of the player. The child turns away so that the teacher can hide a coin under one of the laid out objects. To find the treasure, the player asks questions. For example: “Treasure under the red block?” The presenter answers: “No.” This means that red objects are excluded; there is no coin under them. Next: “Treasure under the round block?” Host: “Yes.” This means you need to look among the round shapes. And so on until the treasure is found. Having found the treasure, the player himself becomes the leader, hiding the coin for another participant.

Gifts for animals

To play, you need to place three hula hoops on the floor so that they intersect. Next to each circle, plant a soft toy, for example, a bunny, a bear, or a fox.

The teacher explains to the students that the animals quarreled over the gifts and cannot share them. The bunny wants small ones, the fox wants triangular ones, and the bear cub wants fat ones. Only some gifts are small, triangular, and thick. Because of them, the animals argue. The children’s task is to distribute the blocks so that the controversial ones lie at the intersections of the hula hoops.

Journey

For an exciting game, you need to prepare the playing field: there is one start, then the path branches into many paths. At the beginning of each path there should be a road sign indicating which block can follow it. If the block is prohibited from passing, it will have to take another path.

For example, at first the road splits in two: large blocks go along the left branch, small blocks go along the right. Next comes the branching by color. It is advisable that at the end of each path some interesting place is drawn - the final goal of the trip: a school, a cafe, a beach, a store, a pharmacy.

Lesson program with blocks: goals and objectives for different age groups

The goals of the method for the early development of mathematical abilities by Z. Djeniš:

• Acquaintance with the basic geometric shapes, as well as the concept of a standard form, the formation of the ability to determine the color and size of an object, the development of the concept of set;
• Acquiring primary skills in algorithmic thinking;
• Activation of memory, development of the ability to concentrate and maintain attention, as well as mental processes of imagination and speech;
• Formation of spatial thinking, modeling and design skills;
• Actualization of creative potential;
• Development of an intellectual culture of thinking: the ability to compare, generalize, systematize, carry out independent analysis, understand the meaning of an abstract sign, encode and decipher information, give reasons for your statements.
• Nurturing personal initiative and strong-willed qualities in achieving educational goals, solving practical problems and overcoming obstacles.

Construction will develop imaginative thinking and creative abilities of the child, activates fantasy and imagination.

Features and general rules for using visual aids for each age category:

The ability to determine one property (shape, color, size or thickness).

• The first junior group (2–3 years old) – Z. Dienesh’s blocks are in demand starting from the middle of the school year as an additional element in play activities. The teacher gradually includes blocks, additional diagrams and cards in order to form and consolidate an idea of ​​one property of an object. The acquired skill of operating with a single property of an object is applied not only to the game manual, but also to fairy-tale literary characters, thus expanding the space of game modeling and activating the fantasy and imagination of children. For greater comfort and efficiency of classes, it is recommended to distribute children into small subgroups.

Video: Logical blocks of Dienesh in the first junior group

https://youtube.com/watch?v=yhQVkuDZzFc

Feature matching skills.

• The second younger group (3–4 years old) - the teacher includes the concept of a second qualitative distinctive property; by the end of the school year, children freely distinguish between two properties of an object and its symbolic encrypted image in the form of a card. The ability to read cards containing coded information about the properties of an object develops, and the acquired skills are used in a logic game.
• Middle group (4–5 years old) – over the course of a year, children master the skill of identifying and comparing three characteristics. Gradually, the negative particle “not” is introduced into the speech lexicon. Situations are actively played out when each child is given three symbol cards and asked to select the corresponding logical blocks or figures, which then must be used as building bricks according to a given algorithm of actions, for example, for the joint construction of a building or the construction of a road, playground, etc. .

Improving acquired skills in the context of increasing complexity of tasks for logical operations of systematization and classification.

• Senior and preparatory group (5–7 years old) - the practice of using cards for three properties continues, by the end of the school year the fourth property is introduced. The teacher’s task is to teach children to strictly follow the rules of the game, to consolidate in the child’s mind the understanding that violating the correct sequence will not allow achieving the desired result. The range of gaming exercises becomes more diverse and complex thanks to the use of new didactic tools such as hoops and algorithmic schemes.

Logic cubes, like symbol cards, will help you come up with a variety of games with your children, and these games, in turn, will be useful for mastering the actions of substitution and visual modeling, encoding and decoding

In carrying out the final diagnostics of the success of teaching activities according to the method of Z. Dienesh, one should focus on the following predicted result:

1. Pupils improve their communication skills and their desire to cooperate in educational and gaming activities increases.
2. Logical thinking develops, the cognitive and creative potential of children is revealed.
3. Children show more independence and activity.
4. The initial stage of mastering mathematical knowledge is successfully overcome, and interest in this academic discipline is established.