[Photo by jimmiehomeschoolmom.]
One of the things I meant to do with my elementary math class (the one that got canceled due to low enrollment):
- Tangrams — A Way to Visualize Fractions, Geometry, and Algebra
[Ignore activity #6. The pages that go with it are missing from the file.]
And then we would play around with Tangram puzzles, and perhaps make up a few of our own.
Advanced Tangram Puzzles
If I were to do a tangram unit with older students, I would be sure to include a few of these tidbits from Archimedes’ Laboratory:
- A curious paradox
Scroll to the bottom of the page for a wonderful little puzzle.
- TangraMagic
15 more tangram paradoxes to challenge your students.
- Math relations between the 5 shapes which form the Tangram puzzle
Areas, perimeters, and still more puzzles. Kitten loves the banner image!
Can You Put These Together?
If your students like Tangrams, you may enjoy playing around with a few other dissection puzzles. My favorites:
For Further Study
- The Puzzling World of Polyhedral Dissections
Explore the history, geometry, and practical construction of 2- and 3-dimensional puzzles. Woodworking tips included!
The author has a new book in print: Geometric Puzzle Design.
Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math 
Thank you for Such wonderful information….If You love puzzles and can’t wait to get your hands on a new one just as I do…….. Check out the blog mentioned below, its really cool, Its one of the best blogs I’ve come across …….Enjoy !!!!
http://staysharpwithpuzzles.blogspot.com
Hi! Tangrams are similar to Soma Cubes, but I was surprised that I’m pretty bad at tangrams (I always have to “cheat”) but I was almost a natural at soma cubes!
You asked about the cubes. Sorry, but they were already glued together when we got to class. The teacher did suggest buying some wooden cubes and making our own, but she didn’t answer any of the questions you posted on my blog. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
Hey! Thrilled to see my cat tangram here! 🙂
And found some neat tangram activities too.
Put something on Flickr with a Creative Commons license, and there’s no telling where it will end up. Thanks for the picture!
Did you know that “Tangram”, translated from the native Chinese, means “Seven Boards of Skill”? Highly perceptive persons enjoy these puzzles the most. See some additional puzzles here: http://www.glennwestmore.com.au/category/geometric-puzzles/
I didn’t know that, Glenn. Thanks for the tidbit! But I will quibble with your description of who enjoys tangrams the most. I think people can be highly perceptive without being attracted to visual puzzles. 🙂