MATHS AT HOME

How can you help at home with mathematics?

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their children’s learning journey. Some ways you can enhance their learning are to:

• Encourage and celebrate practice: Provide opportunities for your child to practise new skills, and celebrate their effort and progress.
• Encourage critical thinking: Engage in discussions that promote reasoning and explanation.

• Model a positive attitude towards learning: Demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning and curiosity. Show your child that learning is a lifelong journey, and encourage them to explore new ideas and interests.

   

During the Term 3 break, have a go at creative problem solving through using Tangrams.

What is a Tangram?

A Tangram puzzle focuses on the objective to rearrange the seven separate pieces into a complete image of various shapes (in outline or silhouette only).

Tangrams are an excellent way to increase mental ability, and are simple to play and suitable for all ages. Using imagination, geometrical shapes, letters, numbers, figures, boats, animals and objects can be made.

History of Tangram

Tangram puzzles are thought to have originated in China in the Tang Dynasty of the Middle Ages, although some claim that they are over 4000 years old. This rich history of applied gaming found its way to Europe in the early 19th Century.

Finding popularity with those eager to exercise their brain power in an original way, the puzzles took their place as a prestigiously educational form of entertainment.

Rules of the Tangram Puzzle

The classic rules are simple : all tangram pieces (or tans) must be used, they must lay flat, all must touch and none may overlap.

What does a set of tangrams consist of ?

Tangrams shapes are geometric. A complete set is formed from seven polygonal flat pieces. 

In a Tangram puzzle set there are:

• 5 isosceles triangles of various sizes (2 large congruent triangles; 1 medium-size right triangle; 2 small congruent triangles).
• 1 square
• 1 parallelogram (the only tangram shape that may need to be flipped when forming certain figures). 

The seven individual tangram pieces are called tans.

The ancient art of the tangram puzzle is an excellent learning tool to stimulate logical skills of applied reason and rational observation. The puzzles are a useful way to develop decision making, visual orientation skills, and creative problem solving.

So, get ready for some Tangram fun these holidays! 

Print the template below or collect from the office.

Here are some puzzles to try and solve. For more puzzles go to the Tangram Channel.