Provide students with a blank folder on which they will create a tessellation design for the outside front and back. On the front inside cover, students will write the following index: 1) a regular tessellation, 2) a semi-regular tessellation, 3) a tessellation with rotation, 4) a tessellation with translation, 5) a tessellation in art, 6) a tessellation in architecture, 7) a tessellation in fashion, 8) a tessellation in nature, 9) an abstract art tessellation, 10) a tessellation that was created more than 100 years ago. Students will provide numbered examples for each tessellation listed. They can be magazine clippings, photographs, images printed from the computer, wallpaper samples or fabric swatches.
Students will demonstrate mastery of concepts by creating a tessellated computer-screen background. Students may use computer art software to create their tessellation, or they may use mixed media to create the design and either photograph the artwork or scan it to create a digital image that can be downloaded into the computer.
Provide bulletin-board paper to students in dimensions adequate for covering classroom or hallway bulletin boards. Students will work in pairs or small groups to create a tessellation pattern to be applied to the bulletin-board paper. Encourage students to test their design before applying it to the paper. Remind them to use colors and patterns that will be interesting as backgrounds for bulletin boards. Completed sheets can be rolled for storage for use throughout the school year.
Provide students with copy paper on which to create a tessellation design. Once the tessellation has been colored, students will draw a geometric net for creating a solid figure such as a rectangular prism, pyramid, cylinder or tetrahedron. They will cut out the net and fold it into the solid figure. A string will be attached, and the tessellation covered three-dimensional shapes will be displayed in the classroom.