Pattern Blocks
Web Link: Pattern Blocks Virtual Manipulative
Flexibility: A blank canvas for using pattern blocks. Multiple pattern blocks can be used, they can also be made transparent so students can layer them on top of each other. Rotations are locked into a 30-degree rotation and the pieces snap together.
User Interfaces: Works with mouse and touch input. Touch input works on cell-phone and tablet devices, but the rotation touchpoint is small and hard to touch on smaller screens.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.
Web Link: Pattern Blocks | Manipulatives | Coolmath4Kids
Flexibility: A blank canvas for working with pattern blocks. Can drag out multiple of the same pattern block. Each pattern block can quickly be rotated and its colour changed. Include a 360-degree protractor for students to use. Students can also draw on the screen. Virtual Manipulative also includes 16 pattern puzzles for students to attempt. Patterned background quickly allows students to rotate blocks to matching angles.
User Interfaces: Mouse and touchpad work well. Touch input works only on cell phones and tablets. Cellphones do not resize the virtual manipulative so the app can not fully be used.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.
Web Link: Pattern Shapes by the Math Learning Center
Flexibility: A canvas for working with pattern blocks. The colours of the blocks can be changed as well as they can be large or small size blocks. Blocks will snap to each other. There is also a built-in 360-degree protractor, number pad, and pen to draw on the canvas. The background can be changed to a square or triangle grid. There are also 21 built-in silhouettes for students to try and create with the pattern blocks. There is also a feature to make their own silhouettes.
User Interfaces: Works with mouse and touchpad input. Works great with touch devices. There is a free iPad app version and chrome extension of the manipulative.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.
Web Link: Pattern Blocks
Flexibility: A blank canvas for pattern blocks. Can drag out multiple of the same pattern block, once the block is out it can be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise in about 10-degree increments. Rotation points do not work on touch devices.
User Interfaces: Works well on all devices with mouse, touchpad, or touch input.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.
Web Link: Pattern Blocks | Virtual Online Pattern Blocks Manipulatives
Flexibility: A blank canvas for working with pattern blocks. Very simple to use and friendly with a touch device. There are seven built-in silhouettes for students to try to create with the pattern blocks. There are sounds with this virtual manipulative that could get to be intense in a class all working on it at the same time.
User Interfaces: Works with mouse and touchpad input. Works great on touch.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.
Web Link: Polypad – Virtual Manipulatives – Mathigon
Flexibility: Polypad has 18 different polygons that can be brought in and used as pattern blocks. They can be flipped around, rotated, and changed colour with ease. There is a pen to draw on the canvas and canvases can be saved and shared with students through a created link. There is also the ability to turn on a grid or isometric grid background.
User Interfaces: Works with mouse and touchpad input. Works great with touch devices.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.
Web Link: Pattern Blocks
Flexibility: This is a blank canvas with pattern blocks to be pulled in. The blocks can be rotated in a 15- degree or 60-degree increments. The canvas can be zoomed in or out as necessary. It is a very simple canvas that works great with touch devices.
User Interfaces: Works with mouse and touchpad input. Touch-friendly.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.
Web Link: Pattern Blocks | Math Playground
Flexibility: A blank canvas for working with pattern blocks. Multiple blocks can be pulled out and their colour changed. Rotation only goes clock wise in about a 15 degree rotation. Block snaps together and can be permanently joined together by clicking and dragging a rectangle around them., although there is no way to undo this.
User Interfaces: Works with mouse and touchpad input. Does not work with touch devices.
Browsers: Works will all major browsers.