Tessellations

problem
Triominoes

Age

11 to 14

Challenge level

A triomino is a flat L shape made from 3 square tiles. A chess board is marked into squares the same size as the tiles and just one square, anywhere on the board, is coloured red. Can you cover the board with trionimoes so that only the square is exposed?
problem
Two by one

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

An activity making various patterns with 2 x 1 rectangular tiles.
problem
Tessellating triangles

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Can you make these equilateral triangles fit together to cover the paper without any gaps between them? Can you tessellate isosceles triangles?
problem
Penta place

Age

7 to 11

Challenge level

Penta people, the Pentominoes, always build their houses from five square rooms. I wonder how many different Penta homes you can create?
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Making maths: kites and darts

Using these kite and dart templates, you could try to recreate part of Penrose's famous tessellation or design one yourself.
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Lafayette

What mathematical words can be used to describe this floor covering? How many different shapes can you see inside this photograph?
article
Outside the box

This article explores the links between maths, art and history, and suggests investigations that are enjoyable as well as challenging.
article
Creative approaches to mathematics across the curriculum

Suggestions for teachers about exploring maths in different contexts: art, history and so on
article
Maurits Cornelius Escher

Have you ever noticed how mathematical ideas are often used in patterns that we see all around us? This article describes the life of Escher who was a passionate believer that maths and art can be intertwined.
article
Shaping up with tessellations

This article describes the scope for practical exploration of tessellations both in and out of the classroom. It seems a golden opportunity to link art with maths, allowing the creative side of your children to take over.