Pentominoes

My son recently discovered a puzzle toy that once sat on the coffee table of my college home. Everyone who walked in would try to put these geometric pieces into the shape of a 3 by 3 cube. Some folks did it quickly, some took hours, and some never figured it out. My son was kept similarly busy exploring the shapes and I realized that he was onto something and started trying to find out what these mystery shapes were called and where I could find more. I walked into Loudoun Learning asking about some 3D manipulatives that I did not know the name of that might have been a popular game in the 70s or 80s. The staff looked doubtful, but pointed me towards the rear of the store which is where I hit the jackpot and discovered something very similar.

We now have sets of two dimensional and three dimensional pentominoes and a book of pentomino activities. It was quite a splurge for this frugal mom, and worth every penny. They are perfect for a rainy day, for when you are stuck home sick for a few days, for homeschooling, or as a unique gift for the preschooler who has everything.