Geometric Shapes Tangram Activities The University of Texas at Dallas

Can You Give The Names of These Shapes? PARALLELOGRAM SQUARE RIGHT TRIANGLE RETANGLE TRAPEZOID The University of Texas at Dallas

COMPARING SHAPES HOW ARE THE SQUARE AND RECTANGLE ALIKE? Squares and rectangles both have right angles 5cm 5cm 5cm HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? 5cm All the sides of the square are equal. Rectangles have equal lengths and widths. 7cm 4cm 4cm 7cm The University of Texas at Dallas

COMPARING SHAPES HOW ARE THE RECTANGLE AND PARALLELOGRAM ALIKE? Both have opposite sides parallel and equal in length. 4cm 3cm 3cm 4cm HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? Rectangles have right angles. Parallelograms do not have right angles. If a parallelogram has right angles, it becomes a rectangle. Rectangles are really special parallelograms. 7cm 4cm 4cm 7cm The University of Texas at Dallas

COMPARING SHAPES HOW DOES A TRAPEZOID COMPARE TO A PARALLELOGRAM? 4cm 3cm Trapezoids have exactly 1 pair of parallel sides. Parallelograms have 2 pairs of parallel sides. 3cm 4cm The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVIES LOOK AT THE 7 TANGRAM PIECES. B C D E F G CAN YOU GIVE THE NAME OF EACH PIECE? A, B, C, D, E are right triangles. Notice that A and B are larger than the others and are the same size. How does C compare with A and B? What about D and E? F is a square. G is a parallelogram. The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Look at the grid of figures. You will use the tangram pieces to form the shapes at the top: triangle, square, rectangle, parallelogram, or trapezoid using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 tangram pieces. As we make the shapes, draw them in the space on the table and label the pieces used (i.e. A, B, C …) The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Going across the table, complete the table for 1 piece. Why is there an ‘X’ under rectangle and trapezoid on the table? Answer The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Because we cannot make those shapes with any of the tangrams provided using only 1 piece. The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Using a small triangle (E or D) and the parallelogram, complete the table for 2 pieces. Do not forget to draw and label your answers. Note for tutor. Click Me ! Click Me!!! The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITES Let students move triangles around and discover shapes they can make in any order. Ask them how they know a figure is a parallelogram, trapezoid, etc. as they find them. The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Not possible D D E E D E G E Here is one solution. Solutions with different orientations of the shapes are the same. Not possible D D E E D E G E The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Now use 3 tangram pieces to complete the table. DO YOU KNOW WHICH PIECES TO USE? Note for tutor. Click Me ! Click Me!!! The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Let students move the pieces on their own before you give the hint. Some students may not need the hint at all. Others may need it after just a few tries. As students find solutions, continue to ask how they know the figure is correct. For example: “How do you know that’s a parallelogram?” More The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Ask students to demonstrate how the hint is true. This idea will help them with more complicated figures. Let students explore how the pieces can fit together. For example: D D F F HINT Perfect Fit Not Fit The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use the 2 small triangles (E, D) and the medium triangle C to form the shapes. All 5 shapes can be made my moving only 1 piece. The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Solution: C B E D C C E D D E E D E C D The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use 4 pieces to complete the table for 4 pieces. You decide which pieces are needed to make the shapes. HINT The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Students may choose any 4 pieces to make the shapes. The 2 small triangles, the square, and the parallelogram can be used to make a parallelogram, rectangle and trapezoid. The square, parallelogram, a small triangle, and a large triangle will make a triangle. Two small triangles, the medium triangle and a large triangle can be used to make all of the shapes. The next slide will show a solution using only triangles. However there are other solutions as well using other pieces. Ask students to begin with triangle and show how the other shapes can be made by moving only 1 piece. Is there a shape that requires moving more than 1 piece? The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Compare your solution. B C D D B D D B E D C E C B The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use 3 smaller triangles, the square and the parallelogram to complete the table for 5 pieces. Use all the hints mentioned. The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Solution: F D D F F E E F C E E C G C C D F C D E G The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use 6 pieces to create a rectangle, parallelogram, and trapezoid (others shapes cannot be made). Decide which pieces you want to use. HINT The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use all pieces except 1 large triangle Note for tutor. Click Me ! Click Me!!! The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Ask students to begin with the parallelogram and show how to create the other shapes by moving only 1 piece. SOLUTION The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Solution: A F D E F D A A F D G C E E G G C C Not Possible A F D E F D A A F D G C E E G G C C The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use all 7 pieces to complete the table. DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO START? HINT The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES First make the triangle using 5 pieces. Then the 2 large triangles can be moved around the make the rest of the shapes. Note for tutor. Click Me ! Click Me!!! The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Continue to ask how they know a parallelogram is a parallelogram, etc. If students didn’t need the hint and found other solutions, have them make the triangle and show how it can be transformed to the other shapes. The University of Texas at Dallas

TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Solution: B E C F A D B A A A B A B C C C C G D F E The University of Texas at Dallas