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How We Did It

In this lesson, each student selected a basic pattern. They first tessellated the pattern to fill a complete 8.5" X 11" page. Then they were asked to see if they could create a design of an animal or object. The results of this year's Escher-like drawing are displayed on this Web page. It never ceases to amaze me how each group of students stretches their imagination a little more than the classes of previous years.

These are some of the shapes we tessellated:

Steps to follow to create a shape that will tessellate starting from a square.

Just cut and tape the sections you cut off of one side to the opposite side. This will a create a shape that will tessellate.

Step 1:
Cut out a 5 cm square from heavy construction paper or tag board. Draw a shape similar to the one in the picture or, have them make their own marks.

Step 2:
Cut a piece from one side of the square and tape it to the opposite side as illustrated.

Step 3:
Repeat Step 2 for another side of your square.

Step 4:
Trace around the shape on a piece of paper making sure the page gets filled up with the shape they created. Then use your immagination and create interesting patterns or pictures in your shape.