Day and Night by M.C. EscherArt LessonGrade: 6

Activity: Making a Tessellation Keywords: Tessellation, Graphic Art, Metamorphosis

Supplies:-8.5 x 11” white drawing paper -masking tape-pencils-colored markers class set -fine tipped black markers-index cards cut into 3”x3” squares -scissors -Construction paper to mount -Artist blurb

Art Guide Prep:

Hands On Art:

Explain that the students will transform a 3”square template, into an unusual shape that they will tessellate onto a sheet of white paper.

• Cut the index cards to 3 x 3”• Make copies of artist blurb

Hand out 3” square to the students to use as their template and some pieces of tape.• Have the students cut out a simple pattern along the top edge of the square (Figure A).Then move it to the bottom edge of the square and tape it (Figure B). Make sure the cut piece does not rotate as it is moving to the opposite side. It should be taped directly across from the side it was cut from.• Then, have the students cut out a pattern along one side edge of the square (Figure A). Then move it to the opposite edge and tape it (Figure B). Make sure the cut piece does not rotate as it is moving to the opposite side. It should be taped directly across from the side it was cut from. Careful formation of their tessellation shape will help ensurea quality final product. The more precise students can be at lining up the tapedsection, the more successful their tessellation will be.

• Begin with your white paper oriented horizontally (landscape) Starting at the center of the white paper, trace the outline of the template (Figure C). This will be your original template tracing.• Shift the template up so that the bottom of the template now aligns with the line drawn when you traced the top of the original template and trace the template (figure C) You should only have to trace 3 sides here because the bottom line is already drawn from your original template tracing. Now shift the template down below the original tracing so that the top of the template aligns with the bottom of the original template tracing. You should only need to trace 3 sides here because the top line is already drawn from youroriginal template tracing. You should now have three templates traced aligning vertically.• Align the template to the right of the original template tracing. Trace the template and move it across the page horizontally, repeating the tracing of the template so the end result looks like a puzzle. Do the same moving the template across the page horizontally to the left of the original template.• You should now have traced tessellations in what looks like a plus sign. The remaining templates will align on two existing sides. Continue to fill in the paper shifting the template, aligning it with your existing tessellations, and tracing. Repeat until the page is full. ****There is a very good chance that there will not be a perfect alignment of all the shapes. Students should be striving for a very close alignment.• Outline all the shapes with a black marker (Figure D)• Turn your paper vertically and try to imagine what image your shapes look like. (i.e. alien, pirate, football, animal). Add details to the inside of the shape in pencil so they all look identical. The students will use their imagination to come up with a name/title for their shape.• Color the shapes with markers using alternating complementary colors(or light and dark colors).• Outline the details of your shapes in black marker.

Finish and Display:• Mount on construction paper.• Glue art blurb to back• Hang outside classroom for display.

Begin with the 3x3 square (seen in blue here). With your pencil, draw a line from the top left corner to the top right corner (seen in red here). It should be a simple design that you can cut out in one piece. It shouldn't go lower than 1/4 of the way down the square. It may be wavy or angular, but DO NOT make it too detailed or small

Using your scissors, cut along the line you just drew. Make sure your cutout goes from corner to corner and comes out in one whole piece.

Take the piece you just cut and slide it directly down so it now touches the bottom of your square. DO NOT ROTATE THE PIECE!!!The mathematical term for this transfer of the cutout without rotation is called Translation.

Tape the piece to the bottom of the square. There should be no overlap. Simply push the edge of the shape against the bottom edge of the square and secure with tape. Use more tape to reinforce the seam but make sure no tape overlaps the edge of the shape.

You will now repeat the translation process you just completed but this time moving the left side to the right. Begin by using your pencil to draw a line from the top left corner to the bottom left corner (seen in green here). It should be a simple design that you can cut out in one piece. It shouldn't go beyond 1/4 of the square. It may be wavy or angular, but DO NOT make it too detailed or small.

Using your scissors, cut along the line you just drew. Make sure your cutout goes from top corner to bottom corner and comes out in one whole piece.

Take the piece you just cut from the left and and slide it directly across to the right so it now touches the right side of your square. DO NOT ROTATE THE PIECE!!! Secure with tape as you did before, matching the sides without overlap and taping

Place your new shape template in the center of your paper and carefully trace. Shift your template up so that the top line of the shape you just traced is now the bottom line of your template. Continue this process until your paper is full

Trace your pencil with black marker then rotate your paper around until you find a picture. Add detail to make your tessellation look like the picture you see. Add the same detail to each tessellation so they are identical. If you do not find an object in your tessellation, you may add a design, but it must be identical in every tessellation.

Add color to your tessellation and mount when complete

Examples:

Instructions pictures from Knox Elm.Revised August 2014