3rd Grade -- Tessellations

For this project we were linking art together with math to create M.C. Escher like tessellations.  Tessellation is the process of creating a two-dimensional plane using the repetition of a geometric shape with no overlaps or gaps.  The students began with a 3" x 3" square.  They created a line design on the left side with pencil.  That piece was cut out and taped to the right side of the square.  This process was repeated on the top and bottom of the square as well.  The end result was a shape that could fit into itself from side-to-side and top-to-bottom.  Third graders envisioned what their shaped looked like and then drew their creation into their shape.  They used a color pattern to finish their work.