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52 Weeks of Math Activities

Week 22: Tessellations – Paper Method

This week we will do tessellations that fit together through translation (moving without rotation). We will look at reflection and rotation in other weeks. There are a few different ways to do this, but we will use the paper method today. I always start the class by talking about what different kind

fractalkitty

• 2 min read
two hands copying a tessellation on paper
a tessellation of a stingray with spirals with pencil and paper

This week we will do tessellations that fit together through translation (moving without rotation). We will look at reflection and rotation in other weeks. There are a few different ways to do this, but we will use the paper method today. I always start the class by talking about what different kinds of shapes can tessellate (triangles, trapezoids, hexagons, rectangles, etc.). We look at the tessellations around us (bricks, floor tiles, fabrics, etc.)

If you have never made a tessellation before, the easiest way is to use a rectangle sheet of paper, with a pencil, scissors and tape. Here are the instructions:

  • Step 1: Sketch a curve that stretches from the bottom left to the bottom right corner of your rectangle
a wave shape on the edge of paper
  • Step 2: Cut out your curve and move it to the opposite side of your rectangle. Tape it together as perfectly as you can.
a wave shape cut out and placed above the rectangle of paper
the two pieces taped together
  • Step 3: Sketch a curve from the top left of your rectangle to the bottom left.
a spiral drawn on the right of the new shape
  • Step 4: Cut out the curve on the left and then tape it to the opposite side (again as perfectly as you can).
a spiral cut out and placed to the right of a shape
a spiral taped on the right to make a tessellating shape
  • Step 5: Trace your shape on a sheet of paper and add some fun details:
a tessellating shape traced

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