Why do this
problem?
Not only will children be using their knowledge of properties
of squares as they try
this activity , but they will also be putting into
practice their visualising skills. Tangrams can be great to
work on in pairs and this will encourage the pupils to talk
together about what they are doing - a great opportunity for
you to listen!
One of the main benefits of tangrams is the ability to
manipulate the pieces; to "play" with the shapes and get a
feel for the challenge. For this reason, it would be a good
idea to encourage pupils to print off and cut out the shapes
for themselves from
this
sheet.
Key questions
How many pieces have you got altogether?
What could you put with this piece to make a square?
Are all the pieces different?
What's the smallest square you can make?
Possible extension
To find more tangrams on the site (many of which have
interactivities), enter 'tangram' in the top right-hand search
box.
Possible support
You may have to encourage some children to experiment and
'have a go'.