Playing tangram

Art

• The child learned about shapes and geometry through the different pieces of the tangram puzzle.
• They developed their spatial reasoning skills by manipulating and arranging the tangram pieces to form various shapes and figures.
• The activity allowed for creativity and self-expression as the child could create their own designs using the tangram pieces.
• They learned about symmetry as they tried to make both sides of the puzzle match.

Math

• The child practiced problem-solving skills by figuring out how to fit the tangram pieces together to form a given shape.
• They learned about fractions as they discovered that the tangram pieces could be combined to create a whole square.
• Through trial and error, they developed logical reasoning skills by exploring different combinations of the tangram pieces to find solutions.
• The activity also reinforced their understanding of basic geometry concepts such as angles, congruence, and symmetry.

To further develop their artistic and mathematical skills, the child can try the following:

1. Encourage the child to create their own tangram puzzles by cutting out shapes from paper or cardstock. They can then challenge their friends or family members to solve their puzzles.

2. Explore more complex tangram puzzles with larger sets that include additional pieces and more intricate shapes.

3. Integrate tangram puzzles into other subjects such as history or geography, by using the tangram pieces to recreate famous landmarks or historical figures.

Book Recommendations

• Tangram Tales: Story Theater using Tangrams by Ross Burach: This book combines storytelling and tangram puzzles, encouraging children to use their creativity and problem-solving skills.
• The Tangram Book: The Story of the Chinese Puzzle with Over 2000 Puzzles to Solve by Jerry Slocum and Dieter Gebhardt: This book provides a comprehensive history of the tangram puzzle and includes a wide variety of puzzles for children to solve.
• The Tangram Fury Adventure Series by Michael T. Lach: This series of books follows the adventures of a group of friends who use tangram puzzles to solve mysteries and complete missions.