Tessellating Patterns

Using Microsoft Word or PowerPoint

to create tessellating

patterns

Tessellating Patterns

• Tessellating is when shapes fit together to make a pattern

• We see patterns like this all around us in buildings, fabric designs and wall paper as well as in nature.

• In this exercise the shapes we will fit together are like building blocks but are really hexagonal in shape

Selecting the shapes

• You can do this exercise working in Microsoft Word

• From the drawing menu select Autoshapes then Basic shapes and cube

Creating the pattern

• Insert as many shapes as you want to create your pattern

Tessellating Patterns

• Filling in the colours• Right click on an

uncoloured shape and select the ‘Format Autoshape…’ option.

• Choose a colour and click OK

Tessellating Patterns

Copying colours• Once all the required

colours have been selected it is only necessary to select an existing coloured shape then use the format painter on the standard toolbar to copy the colour format to other shapes.

Three Colour Example

In this example threecolours are used.Rules:• The pattern repeats• Colours alternate on

each row• Each block only

touches two blocks of the same colour and two of each different colour

Alternative Three Colour

Three colours are used in different way to the previous slide.

Rules:• The pattern repeats• No block can touch

another block of the same colour

• Each block can touch only two other blocks of a different colour

Four Colour Example

In this example fourcolours are used.Rules:• The pattern repeats• No block can touch

the same colour as itself

• Each block can touch one of another colour, two of a different colour and three of the other colour

Alternative Four Colour

Four colours are used in different way to the previous slide.

Rules:• The pattern repeats• No block can touch

another block of the same colour

• Each block can touch only two other blocks of a different colour

Seven Colour Example

In this example seven

colours are used.Rules:• No block can

touch another block of the same colour