Tessellations
- Author:
- Lovejoy Rosario
Tessellations with a Hexagon
Tessellations with a Square
Tessellations with a Triangle
The goal of my presentation was to explore the different shapes that can be tessellated: the triangle, square, and the hexagon. I think so much of math application is related to STEM, so I wanted to do something outside of that. Tessellations can incorporate art, which I think can widely appeal to students who don't particularly like STEM courses. I think it's a great way for students to appreciate math in a different way. The main way this investigation is different from paper and pencil is that it has way more precision and accuracy. If I were to create tessellations by hand, there is no way I could make each and every shape perfectly like the other. Based on SMP #5, the Geogebra tools that I used are directly related to isometries. I primarily used the rotation about a point tool, as well as the translation by a vector tool. Another Mathematical Practice I used was SMP#7, which encourages students to look for, develop, and generalize relationships and patterns. For example, a student could figure that when they rotate about a point for hexagons, they have to rotate the degree in multiples of 60. They could also see for themselves that triangles, squares, and hexagons are the only regular shapes that can tessellate. Additionally, SMP#4 can apply to these tessellations as well. If students are learning about types of isometries, they can apply this knowledge to these three shapes in creating their own tessellations. The thing I like best about my project is that it can interest students who are not as interested in the STEM subjects. Also, it is aesthetically appealing.