I love using tangrams in my geometry classes but I hate having to deal with all those little pieces that get lost or broken.  Unfortunately, most of the tangram program's I've found are all designed for the user to complete a predetermined design.

After some searching I discovered a web based tangram that gives you a choice of filling in a creature or creating your own.  It does not appear to work on the iPad but it does work on my Mac. 

The Tangram Activity is a bit clunky but it does exactly what I want it to.  I have a couple activities that require students to create certain geometric shapes from certain tangrams.  One figure is a triangle like the one above that uses all the pieces.  Others might ask for a concave pentagon using pieces 2, 3, 5, and 6.  This activity has challenged my ELL students in the past.  I don't know if using a computer based version is better than the actual ones but at least they can't throw them out.

I found a second one that was originally created in 1999.  Again, it works on the computer but not on the iPad.  It does allow a person to move pieces around to create the geometric shapes without  being limited. 

I actually found a bit more information on ways to use tangrams in high school math.  Starting with Grandfather Tang’s Tangrams Go to High School (you'll have to do a search for it because it was a word document).  Its a 9 page lesson that uses tangrams to teach area and perimeter.  The activity begins by having students figure out the area of the shapes before asking students to find the perimeter of certain creations.  I like that this is a true exploration where students have to deduce much of the information themselves.

This site has excerpts of Grandfather Tang's story to read to the students before having them use the tangrams to create a variety of quadrilaterals from rectangles to rhombus to trapezoids.  Some shapes can be created while others cannot.  In addition, students can classify angles within the various pieces which provides a great review.

Finally are the two lessons found at Tom's Math Lessons over at the Math Forum which have students trace, classify each piece, and explain how they found the area.  The lessons are well done.  They come complete with objectives, materials, the lesson and extensions.  In addition, there are answer keys for both activities.

I plan to add the lessons to my repertoire because these can be done as hands on and have a geometric perspective rather than just recreating pictures.  I love finding materials such as these.

Tangrams, scrap books and MPG

I think I found an ipad app that will work for my geometry class.  I need to bring home the activity I've assigned my geometry class to see if it will work.  In addition to various figures, this app does have a square as the first item and I can move pieces around to make whatever figure I want.  So I plan to try other figures using that first choice.  In side, I also wonder if the students would loose the kinesthetic element when finding the solution if they are only using virtual manipulatives.  Once they finish each figure they can do a screen shot and create a book, a slide show etc to explain each figure. They could even import the screen shot into an that would allow them to annotate before using each shot.
I did find out that snowmachines and ATV's have odometers so I can have them figure out rough mpg for various models and then do a comparison between the theoretical and experimental mpg.  This would require internet research and they could provide information on an infographic, or a series of charts or other visual representation. Out here in the Alaskan Bush, people do not keep track of miles per gallon and do not know how.  I don't think my students even know the difference between the mpg on the sticker and what they are likely to get.
Finally, I am finding apps are a live safer in my combined pre-algebra/algebra I class.  My pre-algebra class is really struggling with fractions to the point that I am having to reteach adding or subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.  Since most of the pre-algebra students are classified as ELL (English Language Learners), I need to include material that can easily be read.  I have been having them go through a packet, IXL and Fraction Basics.  Fraction Basics is great because the study of fractions has been broken down into small topics such as the addition of fractions which is taught through the use of a video.  The next section after addition of fractions is filled with video examples.  In addition, each section has a very short review of previous material.  This was great because my pre-algebra students were on fraction basics so I could give review notes for an upcoming Algebra I test on inequalites  It was awesome.

Geometry and Tangrams

Every year when I get to teaching polygons I have a worksheet I give out so students can use certain pieces out of a tangram set to create shapes that are either concave or convex.  This activity requires students to think hard and work out ideas to create the shape.  Once they have created the shape, they copy it onto paper with the parts numbered and labeled on the drawing so I can see how they put the pieces together.  I have been wondering how this same assignment would work on an ipad either using a Tangram app or using a drawing app to put the drawings on so they could save their work and just ship it to me when its done.  I could actually have them create a small book showing their work and they could write a short caption for each picture and then explain what parts they used. Hmmm, ohhh the possibilities.
I checked the apple store for Tangram apps that might work.  Unfortunately, most of the ones I've found are actually games where the person matches pieces to create the picture given.  I want one that would allow the students to create what they want.  So I plan to download a few apps to see how well they work.
I also plan on trying the book idea at home to see how feasible the idea is.  I hope to share the results with you in a couple of days.