Tessellations Project

Intro to Geometry

Maurits Cornelis Escher, born in Leeuwarden, Holland in 1898, created unique and fascinating works
of art that explore and exhibit an array of mathematical ideas. Among his greatest admirers were
mathematicians, who recognized in Escher’s work an extraordinary visualization of mathematical
principles. This was quite remarkable as Escher had no formal mathematics training beyond
secondary school.

Tessellations, or regular divisions of the plane, are arrangements of closed shapes that completely
cover the plane without overlapping and without leaving gaps. For shapes to fill the plane without
overlaps or gaps, their angles, when arranged around a point, must have measures that add up to
exactly 360°. Typically, the shapes making up a tessellation are polygons or similar regular shapes
(like square tiles used on floors). Escher exploited these basic patterns in his tessellations, applying
reflections, translations, and rotations to obtain a greater variety of patterns. He also “distorted”
these shapes to form animals, birds, and other figures.

Project Objective: Students will create a tessellation that demonstrates their knowledge of the
properties of geometric transformations, such as translations, rotations, and
reflections.

Procedure:

Tessellation
Use one or more transformations to create a Tessellation on 8.5" x 11" paper (standard
computer paper).

You will need to make a template to trace. There are complexity points for your tessellation. You
get more points for attempting a more difficult tessellation. You may not simply take a polygon and
slide, rotate, or reflect it over and over again to create your tessellation. You must create a
template based on one of the methods in this packet.

**You can use the computer to create your template, but the tessellation must be drawn by hand.

Written Response

Type a 1-page response that specifically answers each of the questions below:

1. What is the idea/theme behind your tessellation?

2. What polygon(s) did you start with and how did you alter it?

3. What transformations did you use?

4. In your opinion, are tessellations math or pieces of art? Justify your answer.
5. Provide some examples of where tessellations are found in the world around us. For example, look
for examples in nature, art, architecture, business, or advertising. Include two photos or a printout
of two pictures to support your claim.

Your response needs to be typed and in complete sentences!

**You may work in pairs or individually for this project. For those students working in pairs, both
students will receive the same grade. So, choose your partners carefully!

**Use the Project Planning Worksheet to generate ideas and help focus your project on a specific

theme. Remember, you are creating an original piece of work.

Assessment: Tessellation
y Polygon(s) and transformations used
y Complexity and creativity
20 pts.
y Visual appeal (neatness and color)
y Follows directions (meets project requirements)

Written Response 20 pts.

The entire project will be worth 40 pts.

 TESSELLATION RUBRIC

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Organization Tessellations are Tessellations are Tessellations are There is no
presented in an presented in a organized, but not organization to the
organized manner. somewhat organized well constructed. tessellation.
Their construction is manner. Their
complete and construction is fairly
accurate. complete.

Complexity Tessellation was Tessellation was Tessellation was Tessellation is

of Design created with non- created with complex created with simple simple and pattern is
polygon shapes that polygon shapes that shapes that connect not complex or
connect to create an connect to create an to create a pattern interesting.
intricate and intricate and
complex pattern. complex pattern.

Completeness All areas of the All areas of the Most areas of the There are major
of Tessellation tessellation are tessellation are tessellation are holes in the
covered by the covered by the covered by the tessellation and it
complex pattern to simple pattern with simple pattern with does not fit together.
completely fit few or small holes in some holes in the
together. the pattern. pattern.

Creativity Tessellation uses Tessellation uses a Tessellation uses There is no creativity

unique design and mixture of polygons some shapes that fit to the design.
patterns of unusual and interesting together to form a
shapes to form a shapes to create a simple pattern
complex and nice design.
interesting design.

Follows Tessellation covers Tessellation covers Tessellation mostly Tessellation does

Directions an 8.5"x11" sheet of an 8.5"x11" sheet of covers an 8.5"x11" not cover the
paper completely paper and has a sheet of paper and 8.5"x11" paper
with interesting complete has no presentation completely.
display and presentation.
presentation.

Maximum of 20 pts. earned here

WRITING GUIDELINES

• Each answer in your written response should be numbered to correspond with each question.

• Questions need to be clearly answered and they must be supported by sufficient detail.

• Response must contain use of mathematical terms, such as reflection, translation, rotation, etc.

• Response is neatly typed with few distracting errors, such as spelling and grammar.

Maximum of 20 pts. earned here

 Tessellations Project → Planning Worksheet
Use one or more tessellations to create a Tessellation on 8.5" x 11" paper. You must create a
template based on one of the methods below.

**You can use the computer to create your template, but the tessellation must be drawn by hand.

Consider the following when planning your tessellation:

• Do you want to use one polygon or more than one?

• How complex do you want to make your original figure?

• Do you want to use one transformation or a combination to tessellate your figure?

• How are you going to use color to alter your tessellation and create more patterns?

• What is the idea or theme that you want to express in your piece?

• What is the title of your piece?

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Translation Tessellation (Easy) Template

For simple translation tessellations, the starting polygon should have opposite sides that are parallel
and congruent. Squares, hexagons, and parallelograms work best here.

Example:
1. Start with a square. 2. Draw a design on one side of the square.

3. Cut the design piece out and translate (slide) it across to the opposite side of the square. Secure it
there with tape—be careful not to overlap the piece or make a gap. It should fit perfectly at the
seam.

Seam >

Tessellations Project, Intro to Geometry 2010-2011

Translation Tessellation (Hard) Template
Example:
1. Start with a square. 2. Draw a design on one side of the square, translate (slide) it to
the opposite side, and secure it with tape.

3. Draw another design on the adjacent

side of the square and translate (slide)
it to the opposite side. Secure it with tape.

Glide Reflection Tessellation Template

For glide reflection tessellations, the starting polygon should have opposite sides that are parallel and
congruent. Squares, hexagons, and parallelograms work best here.

Example:

1. Start with 2. Draw a

a square. design on
one side of
the square.
3. Cut the design piece 4. Secure the cutout piece with
out and translate (slide) it tape to the opposite side of the
across to the opposite square to complete the pattern.
side of the square.
*This pattern needs to be rotated
Reflect (flip) the cut piece or reflected as it is traced.
on its vertical axis.

Tessellations Project, Intro to Geometry 2010-2011

Rotation Tessellation Template

For rotation tessellations, the adjacent sides of the polygon must be congruent. Squares, equilateral
triangles, regular hexagons, and rhombi work best here.

1. Start with 2. Draw a 3. Cut the design piece out 4. Secure the cutout piece
a square. design on and rotate (turn) it on an to the adjacent side of the
one side of end point until it lies evenly square to complete the
the square. with an adjacent side of pattern. This pattern
the square. (template) needs to be
rotated as it is traced.

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Examples of M.C. Escher’s Work