Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tangrams

Last week my students got a chance to work with a 7 piece Chinese puzzle - the tangram.  Day 1, I began by reading the book, The Warlord's Puzzle.







Next, I challenged my kids to make their own square with a 7 piece set of puzzle pieces.  Most students were saying they would have the puzzle completed in 2-3 minutes.  It didn't take long, however, before everyone realized the puzzle was going to be a challenge.





  Eventually, some of the kids began to put the puzzle together correctly.  Then, after a couple of hints, everyone began to get the hang of it :)

After the "square" challenge, I handed out folders of tangram puzzles I had collected over the years.  I had laminated each set of puzzles and had a folder and set of tangrams for each student.  The kids spent time building tangram puzzles within an outline.





Finally, on Day 1, my students practiced making tangram puzzles without the outlines.  They looked at a smaller version of the completed version of the puzzle and put it together on their desk.


It was a fun activity and the kids really enjoyed the puzzles.

3 comments:

  1. Thank you for another book to use with tangrams. I always read Grandfather Tang's Story (I think that is the title). I also have several tangram activities I use that I found in an AIMS book. One is a tangram activity with a suitcase that is really cute.

    I would love for you to come and visit me when you get the chance.


    Heather
    Heather's Heart

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  2. I plan on giving you a visit :) I love Grandfather Tang's Story also. I am putting on Part 2 to my Tangrams tonight. I use Grandfather Tang's Story on either the 2nd or 3rd day of tangrams.

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  3. Well, Heather...I told a story. I WAS going to put on my Tangrams Part 2 post tonight but, my pictures have mysteriously disappeared. I am so disappointed :)

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