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Summary

Have students demonstrate to the class their understanding of shapes that tessellate, using mathematical vocabulary to describe both the shape used and the type of transformation in a work of art or an image from nature. Demonstrate a shape that will not tessellate. Discuss the properties of the shape that keep it from tessellating.

Extensions/Interdisciplinary:

Explore examples of geometric shapes that will tessellate:

Cool Math: Tessellations http://www.coolmath.com/tesspag1.htm


Research and use programs on the Internet that create computerized versions of tessellations:

Tessellation Town
http://www.mathcats.com/explore/tessellationtown.html
Tesselmania Demo Download
http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/mac/tessel.html
Tessellate!
http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/tessellate/index.html





 

 

 


Lesson Vocabulary:

Congruent: having the same size and shape.
Equilateral triangle: a triangle with three congruent sides
Isosceles triangle: a triangle with two congruent sides or two congruent angles
Scalene triangle: a triangle with no congruent sides or angles
Rhombus: a quadrilateral with four congruent sides.
Parallelogram: a quadrilateral with opposite sides parallel.
Rectangle: a quadrilateral with four congruent angles, each 90 degrees.
Square: an equilateral rectangle, four equal sides.

 

 

 

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