Making a Translation Tessellation

The Exploratorium

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In this activity, learners slide shapes to create unusual tiled patterns. Learners transform a rectangle into a more interesting shape and then make a tessellation by repeating that shape over and over again. Learners will also calculate the area of a rectangle. This activity works best as a "centers" activity.

Preparation Time:: Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:: 30 to 45 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:: 1 cent - $1 per student
Age Range:: Ages 8 - 11
Resource Types:: Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:: English

Materials List (per student)

Index card 3 in x 5 in
Ruler
Scissors
Blank paper
Pencil
Transparent tape
Colored markers or pens
2.5 in x 3 in Grid paper (p.4)
Printed example of a tessellation to show learners before starting activity, possibly from the online M.C. Escher gallery (optional)

Keywords

Subjects

Mathematics
- Algebra
  - Patterns
- Geometry
  - Plane Geometry
- Measurement
  - Polygons
- Representation
The Nature of Technology
- The Design Process
  - Problem Solving

Informal Categories

Arts and Crafts

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

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

See page 5 of PDF

This resource is part of:

Geometry Playground: Activities and Links

Access Rights:

Free access

By:

Exploratorium

Rights:

Funding Sources:

National Science Foundation
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation