Tessellations





1. What is a tessellation?
A tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps. Another word for a tessellation is a tiling.








Visit these sites to learn more about tessellations:



2. Create a bird tessellation
Read the instructions below and have a go:



A tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps. I learned the hard way how easily triangles can get flopped and rotated, so I came up with a numbering process that eliminated that problem.


1. Start off with a 8cm (or larger) square of heavy card stock paper, scissors, tape, and drawing paper.

2. Make a diagram on a board that follows the steps illustrated to the right.
a. Number the corners as shown.
b. Cut the bottom two corners off and move up to the top. With edges touching and not overlapping, tape in place. The numbers should stay right reading.
c. The students are to draw a triangle on the back side, label "H" for head, and move to the right top and tape in place to make a bird shape.

3. Using the bird as a tracing template, they are to align it with the side of a drawing paper, and trace one stacking column. Then, if they move the bird to the right and interlock the head shapes, they can make another column that interlocks with the first. Continue tracing columns until the paper is filled.

4. Lastly, pencil lines are traced with a marker and the shapes are colored in. This artwork uses crayon, but jovis, felts or gel pens would look good too.

























Next week, you will be...

3. Creating Your Own Tessellation
Click the link below.  It gives you another explanation of how to create a tessellation.  There are pictures to help you too: Tessellation activity

You are now ready to make your own tessellation.  It's doesn't have to be an animal but I suggest that's what you start off with.
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