Tangrams

WHAT ARE TANGRAMS? 

Tangrams are ancient, truly fascinating Chinese puzzles, made up of seven movable geometrical shapes called tans, with which you can create thousands of pictures and designs.

We'll help you learn how to make your own, the easy way, read on.


THE PURPOSE OF A TANGRAM

The purpose of this puzzle is to use all seven pieces or tans to create a picture or design. The ancient rules dictate that the pieces must lie flat, they must touch and they are not allowed to overlap.

Another fun activity is to solve puzzles - this means you take a tangram picture/image and figure out how the shapes were placed to create that image - sounds easier than it is.

There are many benefits to using tangrams as instruction. Not only are tangrams fun, but important skills can be developed. Spatial reasoning is fostered as you rotate, flip and project how different pieces will fit together. Tangrams are great for developing critical thinking skills, you have to think rationally when you join shapes to create pictures and designs.


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1. TANGRAM SHAPES

The tangram consists of 7 geometrical shapes known as tans - 5 triangles (small, medium and large), 1 square and 1 parallelogram, all cut from 1 perfect square.

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Let us show you how to make a Tangram, with or without a template, it is very simple. This page is filled with tangram activities - the shapes, puzzles and designs, solutions, a little history, printable patterns, images and templates. You will also find links to tangram games, other great tangram patterns, interesting facts and books.

What do you need to make a tangram?

A tangram can be made out of thick cardboard, felt, foam sheets, magnetic sheets, wood and more, the choice is yours. You need a square sheet of the material you choose to use: 12 x 12 cm is fine, a marker and a scissor. The Chinese made them from these ordinary materials as well as precious metals, mother of pearl or ivory.



2. TANGRAM TEMPLATE:
    How to make a tangram

These are printable patterns and instructions for making tangrams, there are a number of ways to create a tangram.

How to make a tangram WITH a template - Printable
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How to fold a tangram WITHOUT a template - Printable
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3. TANGRAM ACTIVITIES

A) Try to solve these Free Tangram Puzzles

The first puzzle page is easy, there are spaces between the shapes, and therefore you can see the solutions. Can you see what these images are?


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View full version or Print

The second page, a bit more difficult, now you are no longer guided by the spaces between the images (the way it should be). Can you solve these tangram pictures? Which shapes were placed where to create these images?

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View Full Version or Print

The third page, now it is getting difficult - try to solve these tangram puzzles.

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View full version or Print


B) Create your own tangram images and pictures with these printable tangram puzzles. There is a blank tangram puzzle to color in and create your own favorite colored version, a black tangram puzzle to replicate the images shown above and plenty of other colorful ones to make it all more fun. Remember to post some pictures to our website, you'll find instructions further down!

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C) Use interactive online tangram tans to solve and create puzzle shapes.

Use this free online tangram as an Educational Website.

There are many more below!



4. PRINTABLE TANGRAM PATTERNS

These are printable patterns and instructions for making tangrams, there are a number of ways to create a tangram.

How to make a tangram WITH a template - Printable
VIEW OR PRINT

How to fold a tangram WITHOUT a template - Printable
VIEW OR PRINT


5. PURCHASE A TANGRAM

From as little as $4.95. Click on image.


7 Wood Tangram Tans in wooden box


Tangram Book and Puzzle in a slip case




6. PLAY TANGRAM GAMES

Tangram Games are a great challenge to stimulate brain function! Here are some of the best games for kids and do look at the games for adults to get those brains creative & working!

TANGRAM GAMES



FREE TANGRAM PUZZLES

Print some more free tangram pictures, shapes, puzzles to solve.

100+ PUZZLES and SOLUTIONS



INTERACTIVE TANGRAM

Some great tangram sites for teachers for interactive learning.

ABCYA.com - Interactive Tangram



TANGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR THE CLASSROOM WITH WORKSHEETS

Download activities and worksheets using a Tangram as part of the curriculum.

TANGRAMS FOR THE CLASS - 27 pages of printable activities and worksheets.


7. THE BEST TANGRAM BOOKS

Some great choices with Tangram Shapes, Patterns and Hundreds of Puzzles & Solutions - From as little as $4.47 - Click on the links to view.

1600 Ancient Chinese Tangram Puzzles

500 Tricky Tangram Shapes

2000 Tangram Puzzles To Solve


8. INTERESTING TANGRAM FACTS

HISTORY OF THE TANGRAM
History - Learn about the origin, roots and mathematical research from someone who knows more about the history of puzzles than anyone else.

BEAUTIFUL TANGRAMS
Ivory & Glass Tangrams - View examples of carved tangrams and tangrams made from other exquisite materials.


9. RECOMMENDED TANGRAMS

We are always on the lookout for the best deals, you can find the best tangram puzzles and books at this link. Remember when you go to this page there are a lot of options to choose from in the left column, simply tick the type or age related boxes to find exactly what you want.

Show me the best age appropriate tangrams



Challenge us with your newly created Tangram Image!

Did you create a new tangram image/picture? Share it or challenge all the tangram fans to solve it!

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Mountains Not rated yet
I use all of the pieces to arrange my tangrams into a range of small and big mountains, the trapezium being on top of the square. You can create a mountain …

KEY-HOLE Not rated yet
Anyone up for a tangram challenge? Solve this tangrams image puzzle if you can, it is a keyhole. Then comment with your solution at the bottom of this …

Click here to write your own.




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