Last Updated on May 27, 2024 by Editorial Team
As a mom to a 9-year-old, I am constantly looking for ways to engage my daughter in fun and creative activities. “I am bored” is something I get to hear quite often as she is my only one. To address her boredom and direct her energies to something worthwhile, I am always open to trying new activities with her. When I came across DIY tangram, I knew she would love it as she enjoys crafts that give her the freedom to be creative.
Today I am going to share how you too can make a DIY tangram with your kid. But first, let me tell you what tangrams actually are.
A tangram belongs to the category of dissection puzzles. People believe it originated in China in the late 18th century. The set comprises seven geometrical shapes that can be arranged on a flat surface to form countless designs. The two-dimensional shapes that make a tangram are:
- 2 Large triangles
- 1 Medium triangle
- 2 Small triangles
- 1 Square
- 1 Parallelogram
Tangrams are not just great for playing. Children can reap several benefits by creating their own designs and solving tangram puzzles. The game can help improve your child’s problem-solving, visual-spatial, spatial rotation, and critical thinking skills. It encourages kids to use their imagination and creativity and leads them to a road to self-discovery where they can explore new ideas and make something different.
So, without further ado, let me show you how you and your child can make a tangram and have some fun together!
How to make a tangram using paper?
Things you’ll need –
- A piece of paper
- Few sketch pens/ markers
- A pair of scissors
- A pencil
- A ruler
Steps to follow –
- Begin by taking any piece of paper.
- As you need to make a square out of it, fold it as shown in pic 2, followed by making a fold as displayed in pic.
- Make sure you align the borders of the paper perfectly.
- Open the folds to reveal the square. Use a pair of scissors to cut the extra part, and there you have a perfect square to work on.
- Now cut the square along the line of the fold to get two triangles, as shown in the next step.
- Fold one of the triangles, carefully aligning all the borders, and cut it through the middle as shown in pic 7.
- The two triangles you now obtained are your 2 large triangles of the tangram.
- Now take the other triangle (pic 9) and fold it by bringing down the top tip to the center of the opposite side.
- Press it to form a nice crease.
- You can even use a pencil and ruler to mark the crease (pic 11), so it helps you or your kid identify where to cut exactly.
- Next, cut along the marked line to get two distinct pieces, as shown below.
- The triangle you see in pic 13 is the medium triangle of the tangram set. Set it aside and work with the isosceles trapezoid as marked in pic 13.
- Fold it to make a crease in the center.
- Mark it with a pencil and cut it to obtain two pieces (pic 17).
- Use the left piece (pic 18) to make a square and a small triangle.
- Fold it as shown in pic 19.
- Mark the crease, and make a cut on the line to obtain one small triangle and square of the tangram set.
- Now use the right piece of the trapezoid and fold the lower left corner while aligning it to the upper right corner.
- Open the fold and cut the fold to get your last two pieces of tangrams – one small triangle and a parallelogram.
- And there you have it! A tangram with its seven geometrical shapes. Now let your kid decorate it as per their wish. My little one chose to color them in bright colors using sketch pens or markers. Here’s how it turned out in the end –
For those of you who want your kids to make a quick tangram without going through all the steps, we have created a PDF that you can download and print to make the job of kids easier.
The PDF includes one colored tangram that kids can cut and start making shapes right away! The other one has outlines of all shapes present in a tangram. Kids can cut these shapes, color them, and then proceed to make shapes.
Find the link to the downloadable file below.
Interesting shapes kids can make with a tangram
Once your paper tangram is ready, let your kid use their imagination to create something beautiful. Children love to recreate things they see around them, such as animals, airplanes, boats, butterflies, and so on. You may be amazed to see how creative your child can get when playing with tangrams.
Depending on your child’s age, you may have to offer help initially to give them an idea of how they can use the shapes to make different things. Once they get the hang of it, you can allow them to explore on their own.
If you need a few ideas to get started, I have compiled a collage of some of our favorite designs to make with a tangram. Take a look.
Teaching math concepts using tangrams
Besides being a great tool for recreation, tangrams are also useful for educational purposes. The set can be used (in fact, is often used) in schools and at home to teach math concepts to students. Creating shapes or solving tangram puzzles allows students to express their thought processes in a fun and safe environment.
Learning math in a fun way helps students build a positive attitude toward the subject. Here’s a list of math concepts that you can explain using a tangram –
- Basic shapes
- Quadrilaterals
- Fractions
- Geometry
- Congruence
- Convex figures
- Area and perimeter
- Vocabulary like symmetry, rotation
Concluding thoughts
DIY tangrams is a simple yet effective activity for kids. You and your kids can enjoy making tangram sets and have fun with them. If DIY is not your cup of tea, you can buy tangrams from a store as they are readily available. Online tangram games are also accessible for kids on many websites.
Tangrams can help your kids develop discipline, attention, concentration, and patience as they’ll need to utilize all of these while playing this game. As this hands-on activity can be enjoyed by adults too, don’t hesitate to join your kid. It will provide a great opportunity for both of you to bond with each other and make beautiful memories!
I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.