Author: Labman

Recommendations for activities and games using tangrams

Cyberchase, An interactive website:
http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/area/tangram.html
The Tale of Tangram:
Written and designed by Allan Hirsch
Hands-On Project:
Using a set of tangrams, whether store bought, or home made, try and make a square using two pieces, three pieces, four pieces, five pieces, six pieces and even seven pieces!

Sample Assessment Question
Brian wrote the riddle below:
I have five sides.
I Have five angles.
What am I?
What shape does the riddle describe?
A.) Hexagon
B.) Octagon
C.) Pentagon
D.) Rhombus
One of the concepts that tangrams help illustrate are the properties of polygons. In order to use these shapes to make larger images, students need to recognize the shapes’ properties and how they relate to one another.

Tangrams: It’s a Perfect Fit
Math Day 2008 at Parker School
Lanie Simon and Allison Dunn

SUNY Cortland

Tangrams

The tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle designed to be a fun way for students to learn geometry. This type of manipulative helps students understand mathematical concepts. They relate abstract ideas about numbers and shapes to something they can see and touch. Because of this, it allows students to solve problems they may not otherwise have been able to solve.

Tangrams contain seven pieces-five triangles, one parallelogram, and one square. These pieces make up one larger square. The pieces are used to solve puzzles and can help kindergarteners through eighth graders develop visual spatial skills, and explore concepts such as size, shape, congruence, similarity, area, and properties of polygons.

We hope that through this brochure, parents will understand the concepts that are being taught through our interactive game.
The New York State Performance Indicator:
4.G.1– Identify and name polygons, recognizing that their names are related to the number of sides and angles (triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, and octagon.)