Supersized Tangrams

I did a quick search for more tangram activities, after we read Grandfather Tang's Story, A Tale Told With Tangrams by Ann Tompert, yesterday. I came across several, including a video on SchoolTube, of a third grade class using extra large tangrams, for a relay race (click the link to see the video).

I think, when we're back into spring weather, and I've had time to gather more cardboard, I'd like to make a couple of sets, for the children to race with, too. In the meantime, I decided to use an old, used up, piece of poster board, to make an indoor set, that can double as a template for cutting the heavier cardboard pieces, later.


The poster board started its life as packing material, but since the Man of the House brought it home from work, it has served as an indoor picnic spot, Lego battle ground, and dance floor. It's certainly seen better days, but I thought maybe, we could get one more project out of it.

My original thinking was, that we would recreate the shapes from Tompert's story. They are illustrated, with the lines drawn between the shapes, to make copying them easier.


But, we discovered, the larger size made putting together the silhouette shapes, we'd had some trouble with, from our cereal box, yesterday, much easier. None of us had been able to make this sand shark, with our smaller tangram pieces.


With the larger pieces, the shapes fell right into place. It's amazing the difference a change of perspective can make.


It's great to be a homeschooler.