1. Tessellating Patterns Using Microsoft Word or PowerPoint to create tessellating patterns

2. Tessellating Patterns Tessellating is when shapes fit together to make a pattern We see patterns like this all around us in buildings, fabric designs and wall paper as well as in nature. In this exercise the shapes we will fit together are like building blocks but are really hexagonal in shape

3. Selecting the shapes You can do this exercise working in Microsoft Word From the drawing menu select Autoshapes then Basic shapes and cube

4. Creating the pattern Insert as many shapes as you want to create your pattern

5. Tessellating Patterns Filling in the colours Right click on an uncoloured shape and select the ‘Format Autoshape…’ option. Choose a colour and click OK

6. Tessellating Patterns Copying colours Once all the required colours have been selected it is only necessary to select an existing coloured shape then use the format painter on the standard toolbar to copy the colour format to other shapes.

7. Three Colour Example In this example three colours are used. Rules: The pattern repeats Colours alternate on each row Each block only touches two blocks of the same colour and two of each different colour

8. Alternative Three Colour Three colours are used in different way to the previous slide. Rules: The pattern repeats No block can touch another block of the same colour Each block can touch only two other blocks of a different colour

9. Four Colour Example In this example four colours are used. Rules: The pattern repeats No block can touch the same colour as itself Each block can touch one of another colour, two of a different colour and three of the other colour

10. Alternative Four Colour Four colours are used in different way to the previous slide. Rules: The pattern repeats No block can touch another block of the same colour Each block can touch only two other blocks of a different colour

11. Seven Colour Example In this example seven colours are used. Rules: No block can touch another block of the same colour