Tangrams: Seven Magic Shapes

A Little History

Originated in China Its invention is unrecorded in history. The word “tangram” may have come from the Tanka people who

were traders who played this puzzle and past it on via sailors. The word might come from an obscure English word “tramgram”

which means puzzle or trinket. Became popular during the 19th century in Europe and America.

More History

Fancy tangram sets made of ivory, jade, and other fine materials soon appeared.

Others were made from fired clay, or wood.

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Tangrams are puzzles made of:

Seven shapes

5 triangles1 square1 parallelogram

The Great Tangram HOAX!

1903 - The Eighth Book of Tan was written by Sam Loyd

Loyd convinced people that the game was invented by the God Tan 4,000 years ago.

Later this was found to be a colossal hoax.

However Loyd greatly profited from his deceit.

Tangrams Today!

These challenging puzzles continue to entertain and frustrate.

Attracts people of varied interests - quilters, puzzle fanatics, storytellers and more.

Tangram Trivia

Lewis Carroll was reputed to have been a huge fan of tangrams. He was believed to possess a Chinese book made of tissue paper with 323 tangram designs.

Edgar Allan Poe and Napoleon were also known to be huge fans.

Classroom Uses

Used to reinforce geometry and ratios.

Teach basic math in an interesting manner.

Integrate literature in your classroom.

Wonderful online interactive puzzles.

Tangram Books for Classroom Use

Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tompert

Presto Chango: Storytelling Class Book Making and Problem Solving With Tangrams by Anne Linehan

The Adventures of the Beautiful Princess in Triangle Land by Gregory Hartswick

Three Pigs, One Wolf, and Seven Magic Shapes by Grace Maccarone

Magic Window story

Technology - Time to Explore

http://www.kidscom.com/games/tangram/tangram.html

http://www.tangram.i-p.com/

http://cs.bmcc.cc.or.us/mth213/Labs/online%20tangrams.htm

http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/chap4/4.4/part2.htm

More Technology

http://www.logicville.com/tangram.htm

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/area/tangram.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/tangram/