Make some more Tangrams

In the last week of Term 2 we learnt lots about 2D and 3D shapes. One of the activities was on Tangrams. A Tangram is a popular Chinese puzzle that is fun to create. It consists of 7 shapes

* 2 large triangles, * 1 medium triangle,

* 2 little triangles, * 1 parallogram and * 1 square.

When it is put together, they form a big square. When you separate the 7 shapes, it is called " Tan." A tangram is like a recyclable puzzle, because you can make so many shapes and patterns with it. Seven geometric shapes might make up the puzzle. Rearranged in different ways, these 7 pieces can make as many as 1,600 different designs.

How to Make a Tangram

What You'll Need:
•20cm x 20cm Sheet of Paper
•Ruler
•Scissors
•Pencil

1. Look closely at the pattern in the picture below. Use your ruler and pencil to draw an 20cm x 20cm square on the paper. (You may find it easier to fold your square piece of paper in half and in half again. Then do the same again, lengthwise, until you have 16 squares like in the diagram.)
Use the fold lines to help you draw the 7 tans
2. The heavy black lines are the cutting lines. Cut along the cutting lines.

These are the 7 shapes you should end up with.

3. Try to re-create the square. Then invent new shapes of your own. Trace the outside shape of your new designs, and challenge friends and family members to arrange the tangram pieces to match your designs.

Your tangram starts out as a perfect square but look what you can make........

Check out this websitehttp://www.linkslearning.org/Kids/1_Math/2_Illustrated_Lessons/7_Tangrams/index.html