Tangram puzzles originated in ancient China and involve rearranging seven geometric shapes to form different images. The shapes - two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, a square, and a parallelogram - must be used to create an image while lying flat and touching without overlapping. According to legend, a sage used the shapes to recreate images from his journey after accidentally breaking a sheet of glass that was delivered to a king. Today, tangram puzzles remain a popular educational tool that helps develop problem-solving and spatial skills.

1. Tangram Puzzles
Helbert B. Tedoso

2. OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students should
be able to:
1. Define Tangram;
2. Understand its history and importance to real life applications;
and
3. Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes.

3. INTRODUCTION
This is the outline of our lesson:
1.Definition of Tangram
2.Short history of Tangram
3.Legend of Tangram
4.Rules and Categories of Tangram
5.Synchronous Activity

4. Definition of Tangram
A Tangram puzzle focuses on the objectives to rearrange the
seven separate pieces into a complete image of various
shapes(in outline or silhouette only).
A tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle with seven specific
pieces that fit perfectly together to form a square. Those seven
pieces are 2 large triangles, 1 medium triangles, 2 small
triangles, a square and a parallelogram.

5. Definition of Tangram
Tangrams are an excellent way to increase mental ability, and
are simple to play and suitable for all ages. Using imagination,
geometrical shapes, letters, numbers, figures, boats, animals
objects can be made

6. Short history of Tangram
Tangram puzzles originated in Imperial China during the
Tang Dynasty, they are thought to have travelled to Europe
in the 19th century on trading ships.
Tangram puzzles were popular during World War 1 and have
become the most popular dissection puzzle in the world.
Besides, tangram patterns have also been described as early
psychological tests.

7. Short history of Tangram
Tangram patterns are called in China "Chin-Chiao Pan" meaning
intriguing seven piece puzzle.
A book published in China in 1815 by Shan-Chiao contains 374
puzzle patterns.
Early Chinese mathematicians manipulated geometric shapes in
their problem solving. A technique that is still applied in
classrooms today, inter alia, through the use of tangrams.

8. The Legend of Tangram
The ancient Chinese story of the tangram is that a sage, a wise
old man was to take a precious sheet of glass to the king who
needed a window in his palace.
The square piece of glass was wrapped in silk and canvas and
carried in the sage's backpack.
The journey was long, the sage crossed a desert and rivers, he
travelled through forests and fields. He arrived at a rugged
mountain range and climbed to the summit of a high, rocky
peak.

9. The Legend of Tangram
At the top of the mountain he looked into the distance and
glimpsed the palace he was travelling to. Pleased that he had
almost arrived, he stumbled and tumbled down the side of the
mountain. The glass was broken.
When he met the king he told of his journey and admitted that
the glass was broken. The square glass was unwrapped from its
silk and canvas case and the sage was surprised to see that
glass was not shattered but divided into seven geometric
shapes.

10. The Legend of Tangram
The sage moved the shapes around and made images to
describe his journey.
He showed the king his home, a camel he had seen in the
desert, monks he met on his way, a boat on the river he crossed
and the mountain range where he fell .
The king enjoyed the geometric images and had the shapes
recreated in wood. . . Tangrams were invented.

11. Rules of Tangram
The classic rules are simple :
• all tangram pieces (or tans) must be used
• they must lay flat
• all must touch and
• none may overlap

12. Categories of Tangram
● Geometric shapes
● Letters, numbers and signs
● People
● Boats
● Usual Objects
● Animals
● Miscellaneous

13. Categories of Tangram
Here are some examples of Tangram Puzzles:

15. Thank your for Listening

16. For more information, kindly click the following links below :
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangram
● https://mathigon.org/tangram
● https://www.mathsisfun.com/games/tangrams.html
● https://www.tangram-channel.com/history-of-the-
tangram/#:~:text=Tangram%20puzzles%20originated%20in%20Impe
perial,dissection%20puzzle%20in%20the%20world.
● https://www.slideshare.net/mcagungun/tangrams-by-marygrace-c-
c-cagungun
● https://www.slideshare.net/jmagcongey/tangram-puzzles
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3avPxYb3wU
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaneUyPPw4o
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5qrd9xApJI
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhNBHvDpLAE