These “Seven Pieces of Cleverness” Printable tangrams for kids is a great classroom tool for teaching math functions including fractions and shapes. You can also add a little classroom fun and challenge for kids when learning about ancient China. There are so many creative designs that you can create from these 7 shapes.
The seven shapes of printable tangrams start with a square which is then divided into a small square, 4 isosceles triangles (2 small, 1 medium and 2 large), and a parallelogram.
Note: An isosceles triangle has two equal angles as well as two equal sides. A parallelogram is a four-sided figure where opposite sides are parallel to each other.
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How This Works
- Start by printing out the template for Printable Tangram Puzzle on different colors of card-stock paper. Since the tangram puzzle is seven pieces, use seven different colors of paper when printing multiple puzzles. Give each child one puzzle to cut apart and then have them swap with other children so that each child will have a puzzle that has seven different color pieces. Be sure that the children swap evenly shaped pieces with each other.
- You can also use white printer paper. Then children can cut out the shapes then trace onto seven different colors of construction paper.
- Use the shapes to create the designs shown or come up with your own. For a true tangram puzzle, all seven pieces must be used for each new shape.
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Printable tangrams are an excellent learning tool for children preschool age and up. By manipulating tangrams, visual-spatial powers of the mind are stimulated. In addition to the creative side of tangrams, many mathematical concepts are taught including: symmetry, area, perimeter and of course, geometric shapes.
Tangram puzzles are also a fun classroom project for celebrating the Chinese New Year.
