Illustrative Mathematics
Regular Tessellations of the Plane
Bringing together the young artists and the young organizers in your class, this lesson takes that popular topic of tessellations and gives it algebraic roots. After covering a few basic properties and definitions, learners attack the...
Curated OER
Tile Patterns I: Octagons and Squares
This can be used as a critical thinking exercise in congruence or as a teaching tool when first introducing the concept. Four octagons are arranged in such a way that a square is formed in the middle. With this information, geometry...
Illustrative Mathematics
Equal Area Triangles on the Same Base II
A deceptively simple question setup leads to a number of attack methods and a surprisingly sophisticated solution set in this open-ended problem. Young geometers of different strengths can go about defining the solutions graphically,...
Illustrative Mathematics
Hexagonal Pattern of Beehives
Young geometers and biologists investigate the math of nature in an activity that is just the bee's knees. Participants will study the tessellations of hexagons in a beehive, along with the natural rationale behind the specific shape....
Curated OER
Tile Patterns II: Hexagons
After learning that the sum of interior angles for triangles is 108 degrees, take it further to show that the sum of angles in any polygon is the same! Using hexagons, pupils practice finding the measure of the six congruent angles. Make...
Education Development Center
Finding Triangle Vertices
Where in the world (or at least in the coordinate plane) is the third vertex? Given two coordinate points for the vertices of a triangle, individuals find the location of the third vertex. They read an account of fictional...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Discovering Geometry: Drawing Regular Polygons
Students will explore the central angles of a regular polygon.
Analyze Math
Analyze Math: Polygons Problems
Here are four problems about the area of a regular polygon. Start by finding the area of a hexagon inscribed in a circle of radius 10, and end by proving that as the number of sides of the polygon increases, the area of the polygon...
Analyze Math
Analyze Math: Rotation Symmetry of Regular Polygons
An applet is used to investigate the rotation symmetry of regular polygons.
Other
Visnos: Polygons
Create regular and irregular polygons and determine the angles and side lengths with this interactive exercise. Use Safari or Chrome browser.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Figuring Areas
In this activity, students find the area of regular polygons using a summation approach and compare the summations with area calculated by Cabri Geometry Application. They also examine patterns of finding area and perimeter as the number...
Math Is Fun
Math Is Fun: Interior Angles of Polygons
Learn what an interior angle of a polygon is and how you can calculate their value in triangles, quadrilaterals, and pentagons. Includes a chart that overviews the "general rule" for determining the sum of internal angles in any polygon...
University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge: Nrich: Where Are They?
Test your logic, polygon properties, and pattern recognition skills working on this challenge. Solution included.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: What Is a Tessellation?
The Math Forum defines and illustrates geometric tessellation.
Mr. Martini's Classroom
Mr. Martini's Classroom: Teacher's Figure Library: Geometric Figures
This interactive resource provides an example picture of the geometric figure chosen by students to review.
Wolfram Research
Wolfram Math World: Semiregular Tessellations
This one page Mathworld site has a number of examples of semiregular tessellations. A definition and a small amount of related information is given at the bottom of the page.
Other
Polyhedra: The Five Platonic Solids
A brief site that includes some activities to understand the figures.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Nctm: Figure This: Envelopes
Explore tessellations with real world applications in this activity from the NCTM Math Challenges for Families series. Figure out what shape you would use to create a legal envelope from a single sheet of paper. Then discover how...