1. Geometric Shapes
Tangram Activities
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2. Can You Give The Names of These Shapes?
PARALLELOGRAM
SQUARE
RIGHT
TRIANGLE
RETANGLE
TRAPEZOID
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3. 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
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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.
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7. 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 …)
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8. 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
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9. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES
Because we cannot make those shapes with any of the tangrams provided using only 1 piece.
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10. 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!!!
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11. 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.
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12. 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
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13. 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!!!
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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.
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17. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Solution: C B E D C C E D D E E D E C D
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18. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use 4 pieces to complete the table for 4 pieces.
You decide which pieces are needed to make the shapes.
HINT
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19. 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?
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20. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Compare your solution. B C D D B D D B E D C E C B
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21. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES
Use 3 smaller triangles, the square and the parallelogram to complete the table for 5 pieces.
Use all the hints mentioned.
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22. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Solution: F D D F F E E F C E E C G C C D F C D E G
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23. 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
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24. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use all pieces except 1 large triangle
Note for tutor. Click Me ! Click Me!!!
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25. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES
Ask students to begin with the parallelogram and show how to create the other shapes by moving only 1 piece.
SOLUTION
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26. 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
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27. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Use all 7 pieces to complete the table.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO START?
HINT
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28. 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!!!
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29. 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.
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30. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES Solution: B E C F A D B A A A B A B C C C C G D F E
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