Tangrams puzzles are a great tool to enhance student’s thinking, creativity, and problem solving skills. The history of the tangram is unknown but it is believed it originated in the Far East, thousands of years ago.
Five triangles, 1 square, and 1 parallelogram are the seven pieces of the tangram that are used to create unique and common shapes. Each shape in a tangram is called a tan and must be used to solve the puzzle. The tangram shapes must lay flat and not overlap any of the other pieces in the puzzle.
How to Make Tangrams
Tangrams can be made from any material; the more common are paper, plastic, and wood. The seven shapes are cut from a square of any size.
Paper Tangram
Take a regular piece of paper (8.5 x 11) and fold the paper down to make a triangle. Cut the rectangle at the bottom of the paper off.
Unfold the paper, and you will have two triangles. Cut on the folded line, you will have 2 triangles.
Take one triangle; bring one corner to opposite corner to make 2 triangles. Unfold and cut on the folded line. These two triangles are a part of your tangram puzzle. Place them to the side.
Take the other large triangle, and lay it down, it should look like a mountain, with a flat base and a point. Take the point and fold it to the bottom part of the mountain. You should be able to see 3 small triangles.
Cut the small triangle that you created, and you will be left with a trapezoid. Fold the trapezoid in half. Cut on the folded line.
Take one half of the trapezoid, fold the long point to the other side to make a square and a triangle. Cut on the folded line, there will be a square and a triangle.
Take the other half of the trapezoid and fold the corner on the same plane with the long point. Unfold and you will have a parallelogram and a triangle. Cut on the folded line.
The finished tangram shapes are 1 square, 2 small triangles, 1 medium triangle, 2 large triangles, and 1 parallelogram. All of the seven pieces are needed for any tangram puzzle.
Tangram Lesson Plan
Step by step instructions on how to make a tangram. Teacher can use chart paper to demonstrate for better viewing for the students. It is best for the teacher to first model to the students how to make a tangram before any students make any folds or cuts on their paper. The second time the teacher models, the students will follow the instructions.
After students have made the tangram shapes, they should use a paper clip to attach them for storage or place them in a Ziploc bag.
The first tangram puzzle game is for the students to make a square. Once they have created a square they are to copy the image into their math books.
Each day or week, their can be a new tangram puzzle to be solved. The students write the answer in their math books. Designate a page or two for all the tangram answers for the students to refer to at a later time.
Extensions
Students create their initials with the tangram shapes. Excellent work to display on bulletin boards.
Students create the tangram puzzles to be solved by the class.
Students create a book of tangram puzzles that will be bind and placed in the classroom and school library.
Debbie DeSpirt - Debbie DeSpirt is an Elementary Teacher for the York Catholic District School Board in Ontario, Canada. Her post secondary education ...
