California Mathematics Standards
California Mathematics Standards
Links to adopted core academic content standards in mathematics.
Escher
Polyhedra
Tessellations
Origami
Just For Fun
Math Forum - Tangrams
This math unit on tangrams was created by Tom Scavo for the Math Forum at Swarthmore University.
Picture This: Tangram for Kids
Have some fun with tangrams.
Tangrams are an ancient Chinese puzzle, consisting of 7 geometric shapes. This site includes some history as well as patterns and directions for making a set.
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Comments from Tessellators
Read the comments from parents, educators, and students on using tessllations to teach geometry.
How to Make a Tessellation
Instructions for making a tesselation and resource list of information on M.C.Escher.
Hyperbolic Tessellations
Advanced students may enjoy this page on tesselations of the hyperbolic plane by David E. Joyce.
Investigating Tessellations
This activity using pattern blocks is provided by Suzanne Alejandre for the Math Forum at Swarthmore University.
Investigate some characteristics of pentagons and see which tessellate.
Examples of student tessellation projects.
Lessons and activities on patterns using symmetry and tessellations.
Tessellations
To tessellate is to cover an area without leaving any gaps or overlapping.
Learn about tessellations through lessons and solutions. Check out the art of Dr. Robert Fathauer and examine his encyclopedia of fractal tilings.
Tessellations to Create with ClarisWorks
This page gives directions for using ClarisWorks software on the computer to create tessellations. Student work from Highland Park Elementary School is included.
Tessellations Tutorial
Tutorials and templates for making your own tessellations by Suzanne Alejandre.
How does a triangle always tessellate?
Explore the history of tessellations, essentials, use in mosaics and tiles, the artist, MC Escher, designs and patterns, and more.
Virtual Manipulatives: Tessellations
Create your own tessellated designs using pattern blocks.
Wallpaper Groups
David E. Joyce created this page to illustrate planar repeating patterns. In fact, the actual pattern isn't always as interesting as the symmetries of the pattern.
What is a Tessellation?
An explanation of using regular polygons to form tessellations.
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Biographical sketch of the artist and his works.
M.C. Escher: Artist or Mathematician?
This page was created by students as part of a ThinkQuest contest. It contains information on Escher's life, tessellations, images, and links to related sites.
The World of Escher
This site is rich with information and illustrations of M.C. Escher and his works.
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Origami
Alex Bateman's Origami Page
Find some nice examples of origami tessellations.
A Paper Folding Project
Step-by-step directions to create a paper sculpture.
Simple, illustrated instructions for making a paper crane.
Jasper's Origami Primer
A guide to folding several different sculptures, from simple to complex levels of difficulty.
Joseph Wu's Origami Photo Page
A wonderful resource page on the art of origami.
The Japanese art of folding and cutting paper is recreated using virtual paper and a JAVA-capable browser.
Includes many classic designs including techniques for the simple models to the complex.
Learn the folding symbols and written instructions so you can follow directions.
A ThinkQuest Junior award winner, you will find designs, origami history, terms, symbols, tips, uses, poems, and other fun activities.
Eric Anderson's origami site includes insects, dinosaurs, origami history and math and well as many other patterns of origami designs.
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Polyhedra
Find out what to call an 11- sided or a 14- sided figure from Dr. Math at the Math Forum.
Create colorful pictures using varied polygonal shapes using this applet from MathCats.
Polyhedra
A definition and some activities using polyhedra, provided by Swarthmore University's Math Forum.
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Just for Fun
Apple Pie Slicing
A fun geometry activity from Aims Education Foundation.
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives from Utah State University presents these online manipulatives to enhance student learning. They are indexed by math topic and grade level.
Numerous examples that explore symmetry in many forms.
Twelve interactive online games from the puzzle makers at Kadon Enterprises, Inc. designed to give students practice with problem solving skills using mathematical and spatial sense intelligence.
Learn about reflection and rotation symmetry from this BBC Revision Bite.
Explore types of symmetry by identifying equivalent points.
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