Tiles and Tessellations Directions

You will need:

  • many colors of construction paper or colored paper
  • 4 pieces of cardboard or poster board cut into squares (deminsions below)
  • 1 larger piece of poster board (dimentions below)
  • glue
  • tape
  • string

A dictionary definition of "tessellate" is to form or arrange small squares in a checkered or mosaic pattern. If one looks at the wall tiling and floors of masjids around the word one can often see these "small squares arranged in mosaic patterns." The mosques and palaces of Andalusian Spain are a good example.

Tesselations are also mathematical. Often they use three types of mathematical symmetry; translational, rotational, and glide reflection. Definitions of these types of symmetry can be found at Tesselations.com (click on "Lessons and Solutions" then on Number 3. "Symmetry in Tessellations ")

This is not only good for art class and math class, but is it also good as a craft activity when presenting Islam is non-Muslim school classrooms.

1. Cut 4 squares out of corrugated card board (like you find in a cardboard box you mail things in) or poster board or thin cardboard (cereal boxes). For depth purposes the corrugated cardboard is preferred. If using thin cardboard (cereal boxes . . .recycling cereal boxes for this project is great)

Size Dimension of each square Size of large poster board
small project w= 3 inches
h= 3 inches		 w= 12 inches
h= 3 inches
medium project w= 4 inches
h= 4 inches		 w= 16 inches
h= 4 inches
large project w= 5 inches
h= 5 inches		 w= 20 inches
h= 5 inches


2. Take the construction or colored paper and cut various shapes out of it. (You can purchase pre-cut shapes of colored paper). Decide which shapes you want and arrange them on 1 of your squares (tile). Glue shapes down . Using second square make another tile identical to the first. . . . . .

Now taking the third square make a completely different tile. . Take the fourth square and make a tile identical to the third square . . . .


It is important that students use their imaginations when making their tiles. They should come up with their own designs. Teachers/parents can suggest ideas if asked.. but they should not force their preferences on the child/student.


3. Now using the larger size poster board arrange the tiles in an alternating pattern (tesselation) . Glue the tiles down. (write name on the back of the large poster board).


4. You may want to add a hanging string. Tape or glue (or both) string to the back of the project



It is important that these patterns are not just drawn in or colored on to the large poster board. Each square must be created as a separate tile, a separate piece of the whole project. This is to not only add meat to the tesselation but also a greater understanding, commonality to the tile creation and placement in many ancient masjids.



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© 2002 MHSNR