Technology Integrated Learning: January 2012

Project Ovwerview- Tessellation Song Video

Song Lyrics and Music - MS Peggy Mohan

Song Sung by Students of Class V (batch 2010)

Tessellation- The Art of Islamic Geometric Design

Tessellation is a pattern of shapes that fit perfectly together. A Tessellation also called Tiling is when you cover a surface with a pattern of flat shapes so that there are no overlaps or gaps. Islamic artists have been creating beautiful geometric designs for hundreds of years. They have been used to decorate buildings, mosques, minerets, carpets, paintings etc. A tessellation has no negative space i.e. the entire surface is covered. We can see different pattern formation depending upon the angle of our view. Some Tessellation patterns create illusion, 3-D effects as well. There are two types of tessellations:

Regular Tessellation Irregular Tessellation

Project Outline

I have enjoyed doing this project with grade 5 students. It is a well planned integrated project and students are exposed to a variety of experiences.

Students are introduced to the concept of angles, shapes [2 - D and 3- D] and formation of patterns in their Mathematics class.

Students visit websites to read up on Tessellations and create some patterns online.

This is followed by a trip to the Humayun's Tomb to study in detail the organization of shapes into different patterns and there complexity.

To culminate their learning each student creates two pieces of artwork using shapes on the computer. Students present their work to the group and compile their mathematics project on Tessellations.

Hands on- in the classroom

Understanding and Making Observations

Recording Observations- at the Humayun's Tomb

MC Escher- world's most famous graphic artists.

Maurits Cornelis Esche

r (1898-1972) is one of the world's most famous graphic artists. His art is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. He has done some wonderful art work based on Tessellations as well. In his work we can see an extraordinary visualization of mathematical principles- the geometry of space, and the logic of space. He is also regarded as Father of Modern Tessellations. Students are fascinated by his art work and have found the following links interesting to explore his art work.

http://www.mcescher.com/

http://www.tessellations.org/tess-escher1.htm

Credits

Thanks to all my collegues ( Ms. Anita Bhutia, Gomathi Iyer, Ms. Kavita Bedi, Ms. Sona Chopra, Ms. Gurpreet Mehra and Ms. Vidya Surendran) for all their support and planning. And ofcourse my students!!!