Tessellations (Day 1)

Tessellation Definition

A tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps.

I introduced our new project in math today.... tessellations.  To begin, I read the story A Cloak for the Dreamer by Aileen Friedman.

This is the story of a tailor and his sons.  They work to create cloaks for the Archduke.  In order for the cloak to be weatherproof, the shapes used in the design must "cover a plane without gaps for overlaps."  Therefore the cloaks were a form of tessellation and a great introduction into the new project.

Next, I had the classes watch a video called, "Tessellations:  How to Create Them" hosted b Jim McNeill.

In this video, Jim McNeill demonstrates how to create tessellations using transformations:

• Translation tessellations are created when the template is slid along the paper:

• Rotation tessellations are created when the template is rotated around an axis:

• Reflection tessellations are created when the template is flipped and traced:

I also found a website that goes through the process step-by-step with student instructions that might be helpful.  The activity is called:  Tessellation Sensations.

After watching the video, I gave each student a 3x3" index card and we followed the steps to create our template.  We then traced our templates and worked on creating interior elements that would allow our template to look like something familiar.

We will begin actually tessellating with our templates tomorrow.

HOMEWORK:  Countdown 6.8