Tangrams: Seven Magic Shapes

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Tangrams Seven Magic Shapes
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A Little History

• Originated in China
• Its invention is unrecorded in history.
• The word tangram may have come from the Tanka
  people who were traders who played this puzzle
  and past it on via sailors.
• The word might come from an obscure English word
  tramgram which means puzzle or trinket.
• Became popular during the 19th century in Europe
  and America.

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More History

• Fancy tangram sets made of ivory, jade, and other
  fine materials soon appeared.
• Others were made from fired clay, or wood.

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Tangrams are puzzles made of

• Seven shapes
• 5 triangles
• 1 square
• 1 parallelogram

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The Great Tangram HOAX!

• 1903 - The Eighth Book of Tan was written by Sam
  Loyd
• Loyd convinced people that the game was invented
  by the God Tan 4,000 years ago.

• Later this was found to be a colossal hoax.
• However Loyd greatly profited from his deceit.

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Tangrams Today!

• These challenging puzzles continue to entertain
  and frustrate.
• Attracts people of varied interests - quilters,
  puzzle fanatics, storytellers and more.

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Tangram Trivia

• Lewis Carroll was reputed to have been a huge fan
  of tangrams. He was believed to possess a
  Chinese book made of tissue paper with 323
  tangram designs.

• Edgar Allan Poe and Napoleon were also known to
  be huge fans.

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Classroom Uses

• Used to reinforce geometry and ratios.
• Teach basic math in an interesting manner.
• Integrate literature in your classroom.
• Wonderful online interactive puzzles.

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Tangram Books for Classroom Use

• Grandfather Tangs Story by Ann Tompert
• Presto Chango Storytelling Class Book Making and
  Problem Solving With Tangrams by Anne Linehan
• The Adventures of the Beautiful Princess in
  Triangle Land by Gregory Hartswick
• Three Pigs, One Wolf, and Seven Magic Shapes by
  Grace Maccarone
• Magic Window story

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Technology - Time to Explore

• http//www.kidscom.com/games/tangram/tangram.html
• http//www.tangram.i-p.com/
• http//cs.bmcc.cc.or.us/mth213/Labs/online20tangr
  ams.htm
• http//standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/chap4
  /4.4/part2.htm

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More Technology

• http//www.logicville.com/tangram.htm
• http//pbskids.org/cyberchase/games/area/tangram.h
  tml
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenew
  year/tangram/