
    <p>
      The most useful resource for this investigation would be a large
      number of cut out shapes. Children may also find dotty/squared
      paper useful.
    </p>
    <p>
      If you talk about shape properties with the specialist language
      we use, then this will help your pupils to use the right
      vocabulary. Encourage the pupils to talk about what they are
      doing, perhaps with a partner, and report their findings back to
      the class frequently.
    </p>
    <p>
      In order for a shape to tessellate, the angles where they come
      together are important. Try to question the children in such a
      way so as to lead them to explore this, perhaps by drawing their
      attention to a particular part of the tessellation. For example,
      use lots of coloured tiles to build a pattern like this:
    </p><p><img src="tnotes1.gif" alt="Tessellation." />
    </p>
    <p>
      At the point marked by the arrow you could try asking questions
      like:
    </p>
    <ul>
      <li>
        If I took out one of the triangles, how do I know which way it
        fits in to make the tessellation?
      </li>
      <li>
        Why won&#39;t it fit if the triangle is rotated?
      </li>
    </ul>
    <p>
      This should prompt your pupils into considering the angles within
      the individual shape itself, which can be extended to discussion
      about the sum of the angles at the point shown.
    </p>
    <p>
      Perhaps you could also challenge the children to make
      tessellating patterns using more than one type of shape.
    </p>
    <p>
      This work can make a lovely display!
    </p>