How to Play

🧱 Study the Shape

Start by choosing a level. Higher levels introduce larger polyominoes with more blocks. A full-size target shape appears at the side of the screen. Take a moment to notice its structure: which way it bends, how many squares tall it is, and where the corners sit. When you’re ready, click any cell on the empty grid to begin.

As soon as you place that first cell, the target shrinks into a small reference card. This makes copying a little more thoughtful—like holding a picture in your mind. If you need another look, simply tap the card for a full-size peek.

📐 Rebuild the Pattern

Click grid cells to toggle them on or off. Try to recreate the exact layout of the target polyomino. If you make a mistake, toggling the cell again clears it instantly. There is no penalty for experimenting or adjusting as you go.

Want an extra challenge? Switch on Mirror or Rotation mode. Mirror mode flips the target horizontally, while Rotation mode turns it by 90°. Build the transformed version on the grid, not the original target, which exercises your spatial imagination even more.

🎯 Complete, Retry, Advance

When your placed blocks match the target pattern exactly, the game recognizes the solution automatically. The grid clears with a quick animation, and a brand-new shape appears. It’s a smooth, automatic flow—perfect for rapid practice and quick improvement.

Use Clear Grid if your layout feels too cluttered or New Shape to skip ahead to the next puzzle. Each round is short, self-contained, and ideal for building confidence through success.

Study Notes

🧭 Spatial Memory, One Click at a Time

The shrinking target is a gentle way to encourage players to hold a shape in mind while they work. This form of “look then recall” closely mirrors classroom visualization activities and supports early development of mental rotation skills. The ability to reconstruct a pattern from memory is a powerful predictor of later success in geometry, robotics, engineering, and even reading fluency.

🔄 Simple Transformations, Big Thinking

Mirror and rotation toggles introduce elementary transformation concepts in an intuitive, tactile way. Instead of memorizing rules, kids learn by doing—imagining a shape turned sideways or flipped like a sticker before rebuilding it block by block on the grid. This active reasoning strengthens their understanding of symmetry, orientation, and spatial inverses.

🌱 Gradual Challenge, Clear Growth

Difficulty increases through small, manageable steps. Early puzzles use tiny two- or three-block shapes that help learners understand the grid. Later puzzles involve more elaborate polyominoes that require greater attention to detail and stronger mental visualization. Encouraging kids to describe each finished shape aloud (“It looks like a boot! A zigzag!”) also builds spatial vocabulary and communication skills.

🎨 Clean, Calm, Focused Learning

The interface remains uncluttered so players can focus on the spatial task at hand. Every action—clicking a cell, peeking at the target, resetting the board—offers instant, predictable feedback. This steady rhythm of observation, imagination, and correction makes the experience both calming and cognitively rich.