Summarize this article:
Last updated on October 10, 2025
A tangram is a collection of seven geometric shapes consisting of two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, a square, and a parallelogram. The seven pieces of the ancient Chinese puzzle are known as tans. In this topic, we will take a closer look at tangrams and their properties.
We love bringing things to life with the power of our imagination and creativity. We often create animals, houses, boats, and birds using paper and simple geometric shapes. Tangram pieces can be used to form a wide variety of shapes. A square can be formed by arranging all seven pieces of a tangram. A tangram is a puzzle created by cutting a square into seven specific geometric shapes.
Now, let us create a tangram using simple household materials. All we need is:
To create a tangram easily, we need to follow certain steps. Let us go through each step in detail.
Step 1: Draw a square with an 8-inch side length using a ruler and pencil. Mark lines for every 2 inches.
Step 2: Divide the square into seven geometric shapes by drawing the necessary lines.
Step 3: Separate the seven tans by cutting along the marked lines on the cardboard.
Step 4: Label the tans 1 to 7, and this can be done randomly.
The tangram is assembled, and you can now color the tans. Usually, tangrams come in four colors: red, blue, green, and yellow.
Tangrams are used for making birds, houses, animals, and other items. When we create different tangram shapes, keep in mind that:
Let us see how to create a bird using tangram shapes.
Tangrams are an essential tool for enhancing problem-solving skills and creativity. They are not just fun puzzles; they also have countless applications in various fields.
Tangrams are ancient Chinese puzzles that can be assembled in various ways to form a wide variety of shapes. However, small mistakes can lead to improper conclusions and designs. Here are some common mistakes and ways to avoid them.
Create a big triangle using all the tangram pieces.
NA
To form a big triangle using all 7 tangram pieces, we have to place each piece as:
Step 1: Place two large triangles at the bottom edges.
Step 2: Place the square at the top center to form the peak of the triangle.
Step 3: Place the two small triangles next to the large two triangles.
Step 4: Use the parallelogram and place it beside one large triangle.
Step 5: Insert the medium-sized triangle between the parallelogram and the small triangle, ensuring they fit together to maintain the triangular shape.
Arrange the tangram pieces to form a house.
NA
We can create a house using the tangram pieces by following the below-mentioned steps:
Step 1: Begin by placing a large triangle on the roof of the house.
Step 2: Use the square to form a chimney by placing it at the top edge of the large triangle roof.
Step 3: Place another large triangle to form the main body of the house.
Step 4: Position the parallelogram near the roof, which can represent a room or a garage.
Step 5: Use the medium-sized triangle and two small triangles at the bottom to create the remaining walls of the house.
Create a cat using the 7 tangram pieces.
NA
To form a cat, place the 7 tangram pieces as follows:
Step 1: Place the square at the top to form the cat head.
Step 2: Use both the small triangles to shape the ears.
Step 3: Next, arrange one large triangle below the head to form the front body.
Step 4: The second large triangle should be placed diagonally at the bottom to form the cat’s lower body.
Step 5: Use the parallelogram to form the curved tail.
Step 6: Finally place the medium triangle to form the neck of the cat.
Arrange the tangram pieces to form a fish.
NA
We can create a fish by correctly placing all the 7 shapes as follows:
Step 1: At first, place the large triangle horizontally to form the main body part of the fish.
Step 2: Use the second large triangle to create a V-shaped tail. It should be placed next to the first large triangle.
Step 3: Position a small triangle at the front of the body to form the head.
Step 4: Use the parallelogram to form a fin and place it near the middle of the body.
Step 5: To give a more defined shape, place the square near the tail.
Step 6: Finally, use the other small triangle and medium-sized triangle to complete the details of the fish’s body and fins.
Create a swan using all 7 tangram pieces.
NA
To create a swan, we can use specific geometric shapes:
Two large triangles, two small triangles, a square, a parallelogram, and a medium-sized triangle.
Step 1: First, we can place the large triangle for the body part of the swan.
Step 2: To form the curved neck, place the parallelogram.
Step 3: Take the other large triangle and place it above the body to form the wing.
Step 4: Place a small triangle on the top edge of the parallelogram to form the head. Ensure that one side of the triangle aligns with one side of the parallelogram.
Step 5: Use the square to connect the neck and body of the swan.
Step 6: Place the medium-sized triangle to refine the shape of the back.
Step 7: To form the tail of the swan, place the last small triangle.
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
: She loves to read number jokes and games.