Tangram Tales

Students solve tangram puzzles and then create a new shape using the shapes in the Tangram square and tell its story.

Task

The tangram puzzle originated in China hundreds of years ago and has been a favorite shape challenge around the world. After having students solve shape challenges using all pieces in the tangram square, ask them to create their own tangram shape and write a story about its adventure.

Engage

Give students a complete set of tangram shapes consisting of 2 large triangles, 3 smaller triangles, 1 square and 1 rhombus.

Begin by asking questions like:

• what shapes can you name?
• how are the shapes alike?
• how are they different?

Distribute tangram shape puzzles for students to solve or use a program like Wixie to complete them online.

Download a Tangram Shapes printable.

Tangram puzzles are not all the same level of difficulty, so partner students together to solve some of the more difficult shapes like the dancing man pictured above. This provides students with an authentic opportunity to use shape and position vocabulary and work on precise descriptions.

Create

Read Grandfather Tang's Story by Ann Tompert. In this tale, a grandfather rearranges the shapes in the tangram to make new shapes that reflect the characters and events in the story.

Ask your students to begin playing with tangram pieces to make their own shapes. As they begin putting pieces together, encourage them to move from abstract to recognizable composite shapes. They can ask a classmate or two to guess what the shape represents.

Students can trace the outline of their composite shape on paper to create a new tangram puzzle.

To add a literacy component, ask students to tell a story about their tangram shape. Once again, they can trace their composite shape onto a piece of paper and add text and illustrated details.

If you are using a digital tool, like Wixie, students can easily move tangram shapes around to form their composite shape and then record an oral story using the device's microphone. Emerging writers can still type their stories, but will be able to share a much more elaborate tale if they only need to speak to share their ideas.

Share

To celebrate their work, have students share their new tangram shape puzzle with classmates. When a student finishes, they can trade pages with another classmate to continue building spatial reasoning.

If your students have told tangram tales, read their stories to the rest of the class or at a family event.

If you have used a digital creativity tool, combine the pages into a class book. Print the pages to create and add to your classroom library, or better yet, post online to share a version that includes student voice. If you export as an eBook or PDF, students can download and read, or listen, to the story from devices at home.

Assessment

This lesson provides an opportunity to build spatial reasoning, practice geometric vocabulary, and tell stories. You will be able to easily evaluate a student's spatial reasoning skills as soon as they try to solve existing tangram puzzles.

Each student's imagination and writing capabilities can be assessed through the shape they create and the story they tell.

Differentiate for a range of language skills by asking some students to write and others to tell the story orally. To reinforce reading skills, add the text of their oral storytelling yourself or capture a video of their storytelling as they hold the image.

Resources

Ann Tompert.Grandfather Tang's Story. ISBN: 9780517885581

Connecting Math and Art

Standards

National Art Education Association - Standards for Visual Arts - Kindergarten

VA:Cr1.1.1a
Engage collaboratively in exploration and imaginative play with materials.

VA:Cr3.1.1a
Use art vocabulary to describe choices while creating art.

VA:Re8.1.1a
Interpret art by categorizing subject matter and identifying the characteristics of form.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics - 1st grade

1.G.1. Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size) ; build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes.

1.G.2. Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) or three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, and right circular cylinders) to create a composite shape, and compose new shapes from the composite shape.

ISTE Standards for Students

6. Creative Communicator
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals. Students:

a. choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of their creation or communication.

b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.

d. publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.