Lesson Plan: Geometry (Tangrams)
Teacher: Ivette Falcon
Objective: Reasoning with Grade Level: Geometry (10th Graders)
Tangrams
Objective/Purpose:
Students will make connections between the area and the side lengths of different shapes in
order to solve tangram puzzles. Students will be able to do this by learning to visualize and use
reasoning to understand the main concept behind the tangram activity. Students will learn the
reasoning behind creating a seven pieces square with tangrams in order to solve a new piece
tangram.
Materials/Resources/Equipment Needed:
Copies of the Tangram Packet, Tangrams Sets, Phones, Computer and Projectors, Pencils.
Instructional Delivery:
Students will receive their own set of the necessary tangram pieces and copies of the handouts
as they move on through the lesson. Students will be taught using direct instruction with a
small group of students as we move on through the lesson students will either work
independently or in groups as the teacher walks around.
Time for each day of Instructional Delivery:
2 Hours per day.
Lesson Plan Day 1:
Task: Introduction of tangrams, Pre-Test and Tools: Tangrams, Tangram Handouts
Knowing and Not-Knowing, Discussion, (Pretest, Knowing and Not-Knowing,
Finding the area and side lengths of each Knowing about the Tangram Pieces, Side
tangram. Lengths an Areas Key, Core Activity and
Reflection) and Pencils.
Questions I will ask students: Questions students might ask me:
Do you know what a tangram is? Have you How did you know that the square with the
worked with tangrams before? area of 8 has the side lengths of 2sqrt2?
What does the 2sqrt2 mean and how does How do you know one of the side lengths is
knowing this help with the puzzle? sqrt2?
How does knowing the area help you find
the side lengths needed to obtain that area?
Strategies (Time for each activity):
We will start the instruction by handing each students a packet of tangrams. Then I will
continue the instruction by having the students individually work on the Pre-Test (10 min).
The students will then have 5 more min to fill out the Knowing and Not-Knowing worksheet.
After the students have turned in there Knowing and Not-Knowing worksheet we will proceed
to discuss strategies they used to try to figure out the Pre-Test as well as taking about why they
think they used that strategy and how they were feeling during the Pre-Test (15 min). Once
this is done, I will help the students fill out and explain the holdout about finding the side
lengths and areas of each as well as the handout including the key (45 min). Finally, the
students will work in pairs to complete the Core activity (20 min) and the Reflection (10 min).
Once Students are done then we as a classroom will have a 15 min discussion about how they
filled out the Core activity and reflectivity in their groups of two.
Lesson Plan Day 2:
Task: Review area and side lengths, Kahoot, Tools: Tangrams, Phones,
Warm-Up Activity. Mid-Test and Knowing Computer/Projector, Pencils, Tangram
and Not-Knowing, Discussion, Reflection Handouts (Warm-Up Activity, Mid-Test,
two, Post-Test and Knowing and Not- Knowing and Not-Knowing, Reflection two,
Knowing. Discussion. and Post-Test).
Questions I will ask students: Questions students might ask me:
Why are only some certain areas possible Is it possible to have different areas using the
with the pieces you have? seven tangram pieces or will it always have
Could you also name some areas that are not the same area?
possible?
Strategies (Time for each activity):
We will start the instruction by reviewing the area and side lengths of the tangrams given
which we had worked on Day 1 by given them a Kahoot Game (15 min). Once done I will
continue to review in case people got some of the areas and side lengths wrong with direct
instruction (10 min). Once reviewing is done we will continue the lesson by having the
students work on the Warm-Up Activity which has them create their own tangram puzzle and
identify the side lengths and area of their tangram creation (25 min).
Examples of some tangram creations.
Once students are done with the Warm-Up activity, we will move on to working individually
one the Mid Test (10 min). The students will then have 5 more min to fill out the Knowing and
Not-Knowing worksheet. After the students have turned in there Knowing and Not-Knowing
worksheet we will proceed to discuss if it’s possible to complete the Mid-Test (15 min). Once
we are done with the discussion about the Mid-Test students will independently work on
reflection two (10 min). Finally, students will work independently on the Post-Test (10 min).
The students will then have 5 more min to fill out the Knowing and Not-Knowing worksheet.
To finish the lesson we will discuss the Post-Test (15 min).
Lesson Plan Day 3:
Task: Re-Do Pre-Test, Knowing and Not- Tools: Pencil, Tangrams, Tangram Handouts
Knowing, Discussion, Create Tangram (Pre-Test Re-Do, Knowing and Not-
Using 8 Pieces, Final Discussion. Knowing, 8 Pieces Test, Learning About
Tangram Pieces, and Side Lengths an Areas
Key)
Questions I will ask students: Questions students might ask me:
Explain how you know what the new lengths Using all seven shapes is it possible to have
and areas area? a square with the shapes being rearranged
Why was this lesson important overall? into different places other than the one we
How can you apply what we learned to other found?
things in life? Using the new shapes again is it possible to
Now do you think that given any tangram have a different square with the shapes being
puzzle you could solve for it? rearranged?
Aren't the new shapes some of the new
pieces but together?
Strategies (Time for each activity):
We will start instruction by re-doing the pre-test activity where students had to complete the
seven-piece square (10 min). Once they are done with the re-do of the pre-test students will
have 5 min to fil out the Knowing and Not-Knowing worksheet. Again we will have a
discussion of what of strategies they used this time compared to the first time (15 min).
Finally, to make sure the students have learned the concept they will complete the 8-piece
tangram puzzle. Students will start by completing the Learning about tangram pieces
worksheet and then move on to completing the new key to the 8 pieces tangram puzzle (35
min). Once done with the worksheets needed to complete the 8-piece puzzle, students
individually will solve the 8-piece tangram puzzle (10 min). Afterwards, we will have our last
discussion about solving the 8-piece tangram puzzle (10 min).
Finally, we will finish the lesson by discussing everything we learned throughout the whole
lesson and how this activity helped them improve their reasoning.
