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In this activity, learners repeat patterns in two and three dimensions to create tessellations. This activity combines the creativity of an art project with the challenge of solving a puzzle. This lesson features three investigations that are appropriate for varying grades and levels.
- 5 to 10 minutes
- 45 to 60 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 4 - 8
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Pattern blocks (multiple sets)
- Index card 3 in x 5 in
- Triangle Grid Paper (p.5)
- Markers
- Plain paper
- Pencils
- Tape
- Cubes (sugar cubes, wooden block, or any other cubes that are easy to obtain)
- Rectangular prisms (shoe boxes, toothpaste boxes, tissue boxes—as long as they are all the same size and shape)
- Cylinders (soda cans, paper towel tubes, soup cans, or any cylinders that are all the same size and shape)
- Spheres (marbles, tennis balls, or any spheres that are all the same size)
- Unsharpened pencils (If you rubber band a bunch of pencils together and look at them from the end, you will see a tessellating honeycomb pattern.)
- Any other groups of identical three-dimensional objects
Subjects
-
Mathematics
-
Algebra
- Patterns
-
Geometry
- Plane Geometry
- Solid Geometry
- Representation
-
Algebra
-
The Nature of Technology
-
The Design Process
- Problem Solving
-
The Design Process
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
-
The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Arts and Crafts
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Links STEM to other topics of interest such as arts and humanities
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Exploratorium, 2010
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation