Submitted by: Myriam Ramos, Antilles High School, Fort Buchanan, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Unit: M. C. Escher - Design - Math Integration
Lesson Plan: Tessellations
Grade Level: 6 through 12



Objectives:

1. Create a tessellations using rotation and translation.
2. Create a tessellation using reflection.
3. Art Appreciation - the work of M. C. Escher
4. Use elements and principles of design - color, balance,
repetition/pattern.
5. Career emphasis - textile design or wrapping
paper design

Vocabulary:

Tessellation, reflection, rotation, translation, repetition

Materials:

Transparencies
Escher posters
Construction paper rectangles (or 3" x3"squares)
Construction paper triangles
Rulers and protractors
Markers, color pencils or crayons
Drawing paper

Resources:

Tessellations and How to Make them - Crystal Productions Video with Jim McNeill
Tessellations Posters from Crystal Productions.
Jim McNeill Demonstration

Instruction/Motivation:

Present works of M. C. Escher
Demonstrate steps on overhead (See Jim McNeill Demo)

Procedures:

1. Demonstrate tessellation techniques on overhead (See Jim McNeill Demo):
· Translation
· Rotation
2. Hand out rectangles to create rotation and translation tessellations.
3. Copy four times in sketchbook to create a mosaic.
4. Hand out equilateral triangles.
5. Demonstrate reflection.
6. Brainstorm symmetrical objects and group in three's.
7. Create a design with three related symmetrical objects on sides of triangle.
8. Draw adjacent equilateral triangles on 12" x 18" paper using protractor and ruler.
Transfer designs from triangle template to 12" x 18" drawing paper. See example
9. Color with markers, crayons or colored pencils.

For more information on this lesson, email Myriam Ramos cemy@caribe.net

Evaluation:

Did students successfully use rotation and translation to create a tessellation?
Did students successfully use reflection to create a tessellation?
Did students show an awareness and appreciation of the work of M. C. Escher?
Did students effectively use color, repetition to create a strong design?