Tangram Building: Teacher Notes

Critical and Creative Thinking — Students have to create original designs using the information provided; students demonstrate critical thinking in creating a large quantity of idea.

Procedure:
Student’s Role:

Students get in pairs or a group of four. Students take the tangram pieces and arrange them into one big square. They draw around the outside to show they formed it. Students then create the shape formula to name all the shapes used to make the square.

Students are asked to then create pictures like animals, objects, etc. with the shapes. Once they make a picture they trace around the outside of it to save the picture. Make a few pictures and then give them to a friend, pair, or group of students to solve the picture by filling in the picture with the 7 shapes. Outlines of shapes will be put in student’s portfolio. At the end of the activity students write an "I learned …" statement about what they learned in the activity.

Teacher’s Role:

Teacher records anecdotal records on student behavior and their creativity when working with the tangrams. Teacher makes copies of pictures so students can solve them in their spare time.
Adaptation(s)/Extension(s):

Use number operations — If each piece has a value how much is the design worth.
Have students try to fill in pictures already done rather than create their own.

Addison-Wesley (1997) Quest 2000: Exploring Mathematics Series, Grade Two and Three. Canada: Addison-Wesley Publishers Limited.

Anecdotal records — Look for student creativity and behaviour when working in groups.
Students write an "I learned…" statement in their math journals for the activity.
Collect sheets of drawings to be put in portfolios. Make copies of pictures and have them so students can solve them in their spare time.

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