- Definition
To "tile" means to cover a surface completely using repeating shapes, like how bathroom tiles cover a floor.
Covering a piece of paper with square sticky notes placed side-by-side is a way to tile the paper.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Tiling is like covering a piece of paper with stickers, making sure none of the paper shows through.
Ask your child: How can you cover this shape with blocks, leaving no gaps?
Common mix-up: Kids may think tiling means leaving gaps between shapes. The goal is to cover the whole area with no empty spaces.
Examples
- Using different pattern blocks to completely cover a shape outline on a page.
- Placing crackers side-by-side on a plate until the plate is covered.
tile is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
