Tangram Puzzles

Tangram puzzles, like the one in the picture above, are an excellent way to engage young children in abstract interactions with shapes. After discussing the tangram pieces including the name and colour of the shape and its attributes (e.g., number of sides, number of corners), children can first explore how to create a picture (or design) by matching the shapes to a pre-made picture. In this picture we are using the pieces to make a snake. Once a child has mastered the concept of representing an object with the shapes, encourage him or her to create his or her own pictures and designs. This is a great opportunity to use positional language (e.g., above, below, beside, next to) in an appropriate context. Encourage the exploration through higher-level questioning such as:

-how can you build a?

-what shapes will you use?

-describe the steps you will take to make a

-what does that remind you of?

-can you show me how to?

Once a child has created a design or picture using the pieces, encourage him or her to draw a representation of their creation. Help scribe the words that the child uses when describing the creation and picture. Encourage rich, descriptive language in your conversation! Tangram puzzles are excellent tools for engaging children in concrete, logistical math explorations that move towards the creative and abstract!