Tesselations

Age
3-6

Materials

 * Shapes in several colors consisting of triangles, squares and quadrilaterals.

Preparation
This is an individual exercise, which may be done on a table mat on the table (Note: work cycle to be observed)

Presentation

 * 1) The Directress shows the child how to take the box of wooden shapes to the table.
 * 2) She sits beside the child and places the box of shapes in front of the child.
 * 3) Directress selects one shape of two different colors and shows the child how to make a pattern (discover tessellation).

Control Of Error
The shapes themselves provide the control of error.

Points Of Interest
Children should be encouraged to look for interesting tessellation in their environment, e.g. brick, floor patterns, wall tiles, fabric, etc.

Purpose

 * Provide the child experience of the different shapes.
 * Let the child discover and observe some of the properties, e.g. shapes that overlap and those that tessellate.

Variation
The child makes patterns using one shape of two different colors and discovers tessellation. The child makes patterns using two or more shapes of different colors and discovers tessellation.


 * 1) Cut out shapes from colored paper and separate each kind of shapes into different baskets. Prepare a drawn picture of an object with the shapes outlined. Invite the child to select the corresponding pieces of colored paper and glue them on the picture.
 * 2) There is a puzzle game that is available in the market. It is a box containing a few pieces of wood of different shapes such as square, rectangle and triangle, etc. which when put together in a certain pattern forms a square that fits just right into the box. There is also a booklet containing various diagrams of tessellation, which can be formed, with these few wooden pieces but with no outline or ideas of how they are formed. The player then tries to form that tessellation shown, making use of all the wooden pieces. It proves to be quite a challenging game.

Handouts/Attachments
Tangram Puzzle Tangram Puzzle Sheet 1 Tangram Puzzle Sheet 2 Tangram Puzzle Sheet 3