Basic Shape

Tessellation!
Examples of
Shape
Tessellation.
By the end of this
lesson, you will be
able to make your
own tessellation
pattern to create
an amazing
tessellation.
Tessellation - a
repeating pattern of
closed shapes that
covers a surface with
no gaps and no
overlaps.
M.C. Escher is the most
famous tessellation
artist.
He was born in the
Netherlands in1898 and
he lived until 1972.
More Examples
of Shape
Tessellation.
Escher knew that a regular polygon
like the

Square Triangle Hexagon

could be tessellated.
He made his tessellations
by working with these basic shapes.
Translation (slide) –
A movement of a shape to a new position
along a straight line
Translation (slide) –
A movement of a shape to a new position
along a straight line
Translation (slide) –
A movement of a shape to a new position
along a straight line
Translation (slide) –
A movement of a shape to a new position
along a straight line
Reflection (flip) –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
flipping the shape over a line
Reflection (flip) –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
flipping the shape over a line
Reflection (flip) –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
flipping the shape over a line
Reflection (flip) –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
flipping the shape over a line
Rotation –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
moving the shape around a point.
Rotation –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
moving the shape around a point.
Rotation –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
moving the shape around a point.
Rotation –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
moving the shape around a point.
Rotation –
A movement of a shape to a new position by
moving the shape around a point.
Transformation –
The movement of a shape by translation,
reflection or rotation
Transformation –
The movement of a shape by translation,
reflection or rotation
Transformation –
The movement of a shape by translation,
reflection or rotation.
Transformation –
The movement of a shape by translation,
reflection or rotation
Transformation –
The movement of a shape by translation,
reflection or rotation
Now, let’s discover
how to make
your own
tessellating shape!
 Start with a regular polygon, like a square
(it could also be a triangle, hexagon, or octagon)
Start with a regular polygon, like a square.
Draw a line on the side of the square.
 Start with a regular polygon, like a square.
Draw a line on the side of the square.

Then cut out the shape, translate and tape the

shape to the other side of the square.
Here is your tessellating shape.
Now it is time to imagine what
you have created.

Maybe it’s a fish

 Now it is time to imagine
what you have created.

The fish becomes a school of fish!

Now imagine another idea with the same
tessellating shape.

Maybe it’s a ….!

Now imagine another idea with the same
tessellating shape.

Maybe it’s a ….!

Now imagine another idea with the same
tessellating shape.

Maybe it’s a ….!

Now imagine another idea with the same
tessellating shape.

Maybe it’s a Kitten!

Which becomes a whole litter of kittens!
 Let’s
Tessellate!
Tessellat
e!
Tessellat
e!
Tessellat
e!