Tessellations

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What is a Tessellation?

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The word “tessera” in latinmeans a small stone cube.

They were used to make up“tessellata” - the mosaic pictures forming floors andtilings in Roman buildings.

Today, the term has become more specialized and is used to refer to pictures or tiles, mostly in the form of animals and other life forms, which cover the surface of a plane in a symmetrical way without overlapping or leaving gaps.

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Types of Tessellations

Translation

In geometry, translation is the movement of an object in a plane. The object or shape is moved to a new position without rotation or change in size.

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Rotation

These are tessellations with rotational symmetry.This means that the geometrical shape rotates around one fixed point.

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Reflection

The geometrical shape is flipped over, becoming a mirror image of itself.

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Tessellations in Nature

Reflection

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Rotation

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Translation

The artist M.C. Escher can be regarded as the “Father” of modern tessellations.

Reptiles 1943

During his life, he becameobsessed with filling theplane with pictures that didnot overlap or leavespace.

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In 1925 M.C. Escher produced his first tessellation.

It was a block print of lions, in which the subject interlocked and covered the plane.

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Frogs & Fish, 1942

Frogs, 1942

How to make Tessellations

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You will be given a 6X6 card.

First, you will draw a wavy or zigzag line from the top left cornerto the top right corner.

Next you will cut along the line, and slide the piece down to thebottom and attach it.

Now, you will make your tessellation!

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Now, you will draw a wavy or zigzag line from the top right cornerto the bottom right corner.

Next, you will then cut along the line and slide the piece to theleft and attach it.

This process creates a tessellation “tile” or pattern piece.

You will trace this shape repeatedly, without leaving any gaps between them.