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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Tangram Magic

This lesson will involve students in the use of tangrams and how they are used to create different figures.

A lesson plan for grade 3 English Language Arts and Mathematics

By Alta Allen

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Learning outcomes

Students will know the basic geometric shapes that make-up the tangram puzzle. The students will learn which shapes can be created when joining the tangram pieces. When you use all 7 pieces, you can create a square. Other shapes that can be constructed with the tangram pieces are: a rectangle, a triangle, trapezoid, parallelogram, pentagon, and a rhombus. Students will be able to create animal shapes using all seven pieces and then write a poem about their animal. Students will then use a word processing program to type their poems. Using a drawing program, they will create their animal. (The class animals can be put together in a Kid Pix Studio Deluxe Slide Show.)

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

3 - 5 days

Materials/resources

  • Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tompert (available in paperback and hardcover from amazon.com)
  • A set of overhead tangrams
  • Overhead Projector
  • Student sets of tangrams

Technology resources

  • Computers with Student Writing Center or a word processing program.
  • Computers with Kid Pix Studio Deluxe
  • Windows Download of tangram puzzles:
    PC download (freeware)
    http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/pc/tangram.html (suggested but not necessary to complete this lesson plan) I use the demo version and have since purchased this software. Students enjoyed this tool immensely.

Pre-activities

  • Briefly give an account of the history of the Tangram puzzle. The story was obtained from the Internet site listed below and then put into a PowerPoint Presentation. The story can be obtained from this site: http://www.creativeimaginations.net/
    Also see the attached PowerPoint Presentation
  • Discuss Tangram puzzle and the shapes that make up the puzzle.
  • Discuss geometric figures as a review.
  • Introduce other geometric concepts: ex. Right angles, sides, angles, etc.

Activities

  1. As Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tompert is being read, create the various animals in the story using the overhead projector and two sets of overhead tangrams.
  2. After the book has been read, allow the students to use their tangrams. If you do not have tangrams then use the tangram attachmentStudent can cut these out for manipulation. Allow a few minutes of free exploration.
  3. Have them create the animals in Grandfather Tang’s Story. Then let the students construct their own tangram animals from the animals of nature. Students must use all seven pieces to construct and create their animals. Then have the students trace the shape of their animal on drawing paper. Have the students create an acrostic poem using their animal’s name.
  4. On another day, the students will create their animals using Kid Pix Studio Deluxe. They will also type their poems using Student Writing Center or another word processing program.
  5. Lesson can then go from the hands-on manipulatives to the computer where they students can manipulate the tangram pieces using the mouse and prepared templates that are built into the downloaded programs.

Assessment

  • Construction of their animals with the tangram pieces.
  • Poems are typed, edited, and published using the computer.
  • The tangram animals are drawn first using different art media and then by using the computer.
  • Informal assessment of the different geometric terms as lesson occurs.
  • Students will show evidence of an understanding of tangrams by manipulating the pieces from this interactive site.

Supplemental information

Attachments:

Optional: Worksheets from Kendall Hunt Math Textbook: Trailblazers Unit 12, Lesson 1. These worksheets match this lesson.

Related websites

Miscellaneous Sites for tangrams:
http://www.kidscom.com/games/tangram/tangram.html
http://msdadmin.scican.net/jsheppard1/98_99/tangram/history.html
http://www.tangrams.ca/index.htm
http://www.myweb3000.com/tangramgame.html
http://info.ex.ac.uk/cimt/puzzles/tangrams/tangset1.htm
http://info.ex.ac.uk/cimt/puzzles/tangrams/tangset2.htm

History of tangrams:
A great site telling the history and lots more. It has wonderful sites in the links section.
http://www.tangrams.ca/tanhist.htm

Cool Site about tangrams:
http://www.tygh.co.uk/tan/tan.htm

Comments

Time Frame:
1 1/2 hours for the actual Math lesson
Additional time will be used to write poems, type poems using a word processing program, and to create a slide show of tangram animal shapes. Students enjoy using the computer programs throughout the year even long after this unit of study has been completed.

I have used this lesson plan in my third grade classroom for a couple of years. Students really enjoy the hands-on experiences that they encounter.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Computer Technology Skills (2005)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: The learner will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the use of computer and other technologies.
    • Objective 2.01: Select and use appropriate features and functions of hardware and software for class assignments. Strand - Societal/Ethical Issues
  • Goal 3: The learner will use a variety of technologies to access, analyze, interpret, synthesize, apply, and communicate information.
    • Objective 3.03: Use word processing as a tool to write, edit, and publish sentences, paragraphs, and stories. Strand - Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desk Top Publishing
    • Objective 3.04: Identify, discuss, and use multimedia to present ideas/concepts/information in a variety of ways as a class. Strand - Multimedia/Presentation

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
    • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing by:
      • setting a purpose.
      • previewing the text.
      • making predictions.
      • asking questions.
      • locating information for specific purposes.
      • making connections.
      • using story structure and text organization to comprehend.
    • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
      • fiction (short stories, novels, fantasies, fairy tales, fables).
      • nonfiction (biographies, letters, articles, procedures and instructions, charts, maps).
      • poetry (proverbs, riddles, limericks, simple poems).
      • drama (skits, plays).
  • Goal 3: The learner will make connections through the use of oral language, written language, and media and technology.
    • Objective 3.03: Use text and own experiences to verify facts, concepts, and ideas.
    • Objective 3.05: Compare and contrast printed and visual information (e.g., graphs, charts, maps).
  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.07: Compose a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama selections using self-selected topics and forms (e.g., poems, simple narratives, short reports, learning logs, letters, notes, directions, instructions).
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal narrative, short report, friendly letter, directions and instructions).

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will recognize and use basic geometric properties of two- and three-dimensional figures.
    • Objective 3.01: Use appropriate vocabulary to compare, describe, and classify two- and three-dimensional figures.