| "KATAMINO" Geometric Puzzle Game Description:
KATAMINO is a puzzle based on the 12 unique pentominoes that can be created by connecting five squares edge-to-edge to form various combinations.
KATAMINO helps children understand basic concepts of geometry. Multiple puzzles with solutions that can be quite simple, or quite difficult!
KATAMINO can be a solitaire puzzle or strategic game with quick rounds for 2 players. It is an unusual game, loved by players of all ages and all skill levels.
Assn of Teachers of Mathematics: "Children of all abilities can use them. They certainly provide the level of challenge to inspire and motivate more able children."
Puzzle Game Specifications:
Ages: 3+
Number of Players: 2-4
Length of Play: 10-20 minutes
Puzzle Contents:
12 Pentamino-Shaped Puzzle Pieces
1 Rectangular Board
Puzzle Book
Product Awards:
Parents' Choice Foundation, Parents' Choice Award 2003
Product Specifications:
Box: 13" x 8" x 2"
Box Weight: 2.6 lbs
Product Warnings & Safety Information:
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - SMALL PARTS. This game contains small pieces and is not suitable for children under 3 years of age.
A NOTE FROM LAURI:
KATAMINO is naturally differentiated for different levels of ability, by changing the size of the rectangle you choose to fill. The puzzle board includes separate challenges to fit pentomino pieces into different sized rectangular grids. Because the puzzles can be graduated in difficulty level, KATAMINO is suitable for all ages.
Children and adults who struggle with manual dexterity for jigsaw puzzles should be able to easily grasp and manipulate the individual pentaminoes. The more the puzzles are played, the more they will help improve manual dexterity.
Pentomino problems help develop trial-and-improve strategies, perseverance, and reasoning skills. The puzzles provide a high degree of challenge, and encourage students to develop strong problem solving skills, and critical thinking.
Puzzles provide a tactile approach to developing geometry and math skills. Pentominoes, and KATAMINO puzzles can be used to teach concepts such as area, perimeter, conguence, symmetry, volume, and classification. The tactile puzzle pieces enhance students' learning experiences. Examples for using KATAMINO in the classroom can be found under the "Learn More" tab.
Spatial awareness is improved with the use of the patterns and blocks that can be formed using the pentaminoes.
Both TOP THIS puzzle and KATAMINO use similar shapes for tactile geometric play. TOP THIS uses tetrominoes (created by connecting 4 congruent squares into 5 different combinations) and KATAMINO uses pentominoes (created by connecting 5 congruent squares into 12 different combinations). They are both great puzzles, with TOP THIS more portable and with KATAMINO having greater range of difficulty achieved by more puzzle pieces. |
