Tessellations

1. A ________ is a closed shape that has three or more sides.

2. An ________ is a deceptive or misleading image or idea.

3. A ________ is a design created by imbedding stones or pieces of glass on a surface.

4. A collection of repeating shapes that fit together to cover a surface without overlapping or leaving gaps is called a _______

5. Polygons that are the exact same size called __________ polygons.

Vocabulary Words

Illusion Mosaic Tessellation Congruent Polygon

TESSELLATION:a collection of repeating shapes that fit together

to cover a surface without overlapping or leaving gaps.

complexsimple

Do you see the repeating shapes?

Tessellations occur in nature.

Tessellations are all around us.

The repeated shapes that make up a tessellation are called congruent polygons. A polygon is a shape that has three or

more sides. Polygons that are the exact same size are called congruent polygons.

Which pairs of shapes below are congruent polygons?

In addition to finding tessellations in nature, humans have been making tessellation designs for centuries. People in Mesopotamia (present day

Iraq) were making tessellation designs over 6,000 years ago.

Ancient castles and mosques show examples of tessellations on their floors, walls, and ceilings. Some of the oldest and most elaborate examples of tessellation designs can be found in Islamic art and architecture.

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Tessellations are commonly seen in tile mosaics. A mosaic is a design created by imbedding stones, tiles, glass or other hard material onto a

surface.

Imam Mosque

Esfahan, Iran

Islamic Palace in Khiva, Uzbekistan

Notice how tessellation designs are carved into pillars made of wood and marble.

One of the most well known places to see tessellation designs used in architecture is the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.

The Alhambra’s beauty has provided creative inspiration to its viewers for centuries. One famous Dutch artist who’s

work was greatly influenced by this palace is M.C. Escher.

M.C. Escher (1898-1972) is one of the world's most famous graphic artists. He is well-known for creating optical illusions and for his use of tessellating shapes.

Ascending and Descending Sky & Water I

Day and Night, Woodcut, 1938

Cycle, Lithograph, 1938 Development II, Woodcut, 1939

Smaller and Smaller, Wood engraving and Wood cut, 1956

Drawing Hands, Lithograph, 1948

Moebius Strip II, Wood cut, 1963Waterfall, Lithograph, 1961

Up and Down, Lithograph, 1947 Other World, Wood engraving and Wood cut, 1947

Relativity, Lithograph, 1953

Reptiles, Lithograph, 1943

Contemporary architects, textile and graphic artists continue to use tessellation designs in their work. The examples below show how illustrators today use computers to generate incredibly colorful and imaginative tessellations.

Makoto NakamuraJim McNeill