Tessellations There are three assignments for this ARTery lesson. Colour, Cut and Create.

A multiple block lesson plan would incorporate all three projects to facilitate a more complete understanding of colour combinations and tessellations. However, choose whichever lesson is suitable for grade level and time permitting. Colour:
Use the following website to print demi regular tessellation patterns for colouring. Use the section titled Extra Tessellations. Print a few types of tessellations for each student. Link to printable demiregular tesellations Choose three or four colours from the colour wheel based on analogous and complementary colour combinations. Analogous: Two adjacent colours to a key colour on the colour wheel. Complimentary: Found directly across the colour wheel from a key colour. Two colouring sheets could take 40 minutes.

Cut:
Print out the gecko word document for each student to colour using an analogous colour scheme. Each student can try two different colour combinations with two different geckos. Cut out each gecko and display on the wall as a group tessellation. See Analogous Final for example

Create:
Each student will need: Construction paper x 2 Scissors Scotch tape to connect pieces together Pencil Colouring utensils (pencil crayons or felts) 8.5 x 11 printer paper 8.5 x 11 white card stock

Cut out a square of construction paper approximately four inches square. Use the Tessellations Guide to make a tessellation based on Eschers translations. NB The slide translation is the easiest tessellation to imagine. Encourage experiments with all three then students can select to one that works the best or is easiest to identify with. WHEN CUTTING OUT AND ALLIGNING PIECES CRAFTSMANSHIP IS IMPERATIVE! The image will not tessellate if the edges are not lined up properly. Trace the final tessellation onto a blank piece of drawing paper and consider what the shape appears to be. Draw in the details to create an object, animal or design. Once the design is complete, start the tessellation on the plane on the piece of card stock. Use the construction paper cut out to trace the tessellation as it fits across the page. Trace the first shape in the centre of the page and tessellate accordingly from the centre out. Some shapes will be cut off by the edges of the paper. Use an analogous colour scheme to separate the tessellations on the final image. Hang and enjoy! For other ideas and activities, check out the other links on the Good Sites for Tessellations document.