Education Standards
Creating Tangrams Worksheet
Figures from Amusements in Mathematics Worksheet
Grandfather Tang'a Story Video
POWER Library
Rubric for Student Reflection
Shapes Worksheet
Shape Worksheet Answers
Tangram Game Pieces in Color Worksheet
Tangram Graphing Chart Worksheet
Tangram Puzzle Pieces in Black and White Worksheet
Tangram Fun
Overview
Students learn about the history of tangrams. They will learn about each piece in the tangram puzzle and analyze the shapes to complete geometric puzzles and mathematics problems.
Lesson Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Explain the history of the tangram.
- Create their own set of tangram pieces.
- Identify the shapes and measurements of the tangram pieces.
- Complete various mathematical problems using the tangram pieces.
- Construct various shapes using the tangram pieces.
- Use critical thinking to create various animals, shapes, and letters using the tangram pieces.
Warm Up / Introduction
Instructors Notes:
The tangram is believed to have been invented in China thousands of years ago. There are several myths and stories about how they were created. Student's will watch A Sage's Journey to learn about one of those myths/stories. As they watch the video, have the students record the items that are created using the tangram puzzle pieces.
Attached is another video called Grandfather Tang's Story which can also be used. This video was created by the ower to introduce the concept to middle school students.
Additional Resources:
- Grandfather Tang's Story by Ann Tompert
- Three Pigs, One Wolf, and Seven Magix Shapes by Grace Maccarone
- The Warlord's Puzzle by Virginia Walton Pilegard
- The Happy Square Tangram Story by Mrs. Cote's First Grade Math Students
This activity can also be linked to English Language Arts by using additional books you may already have in your library.
The tangram is believed to have been invented in China thousands of years ago. There are several myths and stories about how they were created.
Activity Directions:
|
Research / Explore Activity
Instructors Notes:
Students will use POWER Library resources to investigate additional information on what tangrams puzzles are, how they are created, and what types of things can be built with them. They will then use this knowledge to draw their own game pieces and provide instructions on how someone can create their own. They will also use the game pieces to anwer some mathematical questions.
You may want to include a vocabulary lesson for the students so they can learn all the terms if they do not already know them.
Resources in POWER Library that can be used for this activity includes:
- POWER Library E-Books (EBSCO)
- Geometry and Trigonometry ebook
- Geometry: Tutorial and Practical Problems
- Master Math: Trigonometry Including Everything From Trigonometric Functions, Equations, Triangle, and Graphs to Identities, Coordinate Systems, and Complex Numbers
- POWER Library - Gale In Context: Elementary
- POWER Library - Gale OneFile: High School
- POWER Library - Gale In Context: Middle School
- POWER Library Gale E-Books
- Real-Life Math
- POWER Library Science Reference Center
Assessment: As an assessment, have the students show you their parallelogram, square, and shapes made from two (2) congruent shapes so you know they can create them.
Extended Activity: Using the photographs in AP Newsroom and the other POWER Library resources, have the students locate photographs that include the tangram shapes (triangles, squares, etc.). They should be able to describe what shape they located and where they discovered it.
Websites that provide an online tangram game:
Activity Directions:
|
Reinforcement / Creation Activity
Instructors Notes:
Students will use their tangram pieces to try to complete shapes and figures using the attached worksheets. They will then be taxed with creating and naming their own creations using the 7 pieces of the tangram puzzle.
Answers to the shapes worksheet are also included as a handout.
Resources in POWER Library that can be used for this activity includes:
- POWER Library - Gale In Context: Elementary
- POWER Library - Gale OneFile: High School
- POWER Library - Gale In Context: Middle School
- POWER Library Science Reference Center
Assessment: An assessment can be completed based on the students ability to to create an original tangram figure.
Activity Directions:
|
Reflection
Instructor Reflection:
Reflect on the lesson plan and document what worked for you, what did not work for you, and what you would change for the next time you use this lesson.
Directions:
|