Twisted Tesselations

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In this activity (on pages 41-47 of PDF), learners explore tesselating geometric patterns (repeated shapes, similar to the art of M.C. Escher). They play with existing shapes, either with laminated cut-out pieces of paper or wooden blocks. They also can make their own tesselations: the lesson plan describes how to take a basic tesselating shape like a triangle or a square and modify it to make a more complicated tesselation. Learners can make simple translation tesselations as well as more complex rotation tesselations.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Learning Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:
Ages 4 - adult
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • 8½” x 11” paper
  • Pens, pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils
  • Scissors
  • Card stock, construction paper, or some other firm paper
  • Tape

Keywords

Subjects

  • Mathematics
    • Algebra
      • Patterns
    • Geometry
      • Plane Geometry
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

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