NCERT Maths Mela, Class 5, textbook pages 92–103

How to teach Class 5 Maths Chapter 7, Shapes and Patterns, at home

Weaving, tiling and shape patterns, taught with things you already have at home: a 10-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

over, under: a woven mat

NCERT Class 5 Maths Chapter 7 Shapes and Patterns: what it teaches

Paper weaving shows over-under patterns; tiles show shapes fitting without gaps. Your child makes woven mats, extends and describes patterns, and finds which shapes tile a floor.

Why it matters later. Patterns and tiling build geometric thinking used in symmetry, area and art.

See it: this chapter in pictures

One under, one over makes a checkerboard.
Triangles tile with no gaps.
Hexagons tile like a honeycomb.

You need

  • coloured paper and paper strips
  • scissors
  • squared and dot paper

Tonight’s 10 minutes

  1. Weave a paper mat: strips go one under, one over. Then try two under, two over.
  2. Describe the pattern in words and continue it on squared paper.
  3. Cut identical triangles and hexagons from paper and see which fit together with no gaps.
  4. Find tiling patterns at home: floors, walls, fabric.

Words to use

  • pattern
  • repeat
  • weave
  • tile
  • no gaps
  • hexagon
  • rule

Watch for

  • Losing the pattern after a few strips. Say the rule aloud each time: under, over, under, over.
  • Thinking only squares can tile. Try equilateral triangles and hexagons: they tile too.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouUnder, over, under, over. What comes next?

Your childUnder.

YouWhat if the next strip starts with over?

Your childThen it makes a checkerboard!

YouCan circles tile the floor?

Your childNo, there are gaps.

A game for this week: Tile challenge

  1. Cut 12 copies of one shape.
  2. Try to cover a paper without gaps or overlaps.
  3. Score 2 points if it tiles, 0 if gaps remain.
  4. Try squares, triangles, hexagons and circles.

A 5-day plan, 10 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Weave a paper mat.
  2. Day 2Continue weaving patterns.
  3. Day 3Tile with triangles and hexagons.
  4. Day 4Find tilings at home.
  5. Day 5Tile challenge.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Floor tiles.
  • Woven baskets and mats.
  • Sari and dupatta borders.
  • Honeycomb hexagons.

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

Which shapes tile without gaps: squares, circles, hexagons?

Squares and hexagons.

Continue: under, over, under, over, __

Under.

How many triangles fit round one point in a triangle tiling?

6.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Makes and continues weaving patterns.
  • Knows which shapes tile.
  • Describes a pattern rule.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Maths Mela (Class 5). See the full Class 5 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

What is tiling?

Covering a surface with shapes with no gaps or overlaps.

Can circles tile?

No, they leave gaps.

Why weave paper mats in maths?

Weaving shows repeating patterns clearly.