1. Ancient Chinese Tangrams
By Ms. Laura Billhimer

2. Today… We are going to learn about a game invented in ancient China.
This game is a lot like a…

3. Puzzle!

4. Each shape is called a tan.
This is a square made of 7 shapes.
Each shape is called a tan.

5. Notice how each shape has all 7 pieces!
A tangram is a picture that is made out of all 7 shapes of the square.
The shapes must touch but may not overlap.
Notice how each shape has all 7 pieces!

6. Is this a tangram?
Yes it is! Why?
It has all 7 pieces.

7. Is this a tangram?
No! Why not?
It only has 5 pieces!

8. The picture has all 7 pieces
Is it a tangram now?
The picture has all 7 pieces
Yes! Why?

9. The ancient Chinese used tangrams to tell stories.
The storyteller moves the the tans (shapes) around to make and show the shape of a character in the story.

10. You are going to hear one of these Ancient Chinese Tangram stories…right now!
Listen to the story and watch how the tangrams are arranged to make each picture in the story!

15. Fox

17. Rabbit

19. Dog!

21. Squirrel

23. Hawk

25. Turtle

27. Crocodile

29. Goldfish

31. Goose

33. Lion

35. Chou and Wu Ling

37. Grandfather Tang and Little Soo

39. The End!