Draw a Magic Egg Tangram

You will need card, pencils, a ruler, a pair of compasses and scissors 

A Tangram is a square, divided into pieces.

The pieces are arranged in different ways to create pictures or patterns, like this:

The instructions here are for creating a different kind of Tangram. This one is egg shaped, and can be used to create different bird images.

The construction of the Tangram follows 9 separate steps. So, while this is a fun activity, be sure you have the materials to hand and the time to complete it.

1- Start by drawing two lines on a piece of paper or (better) some card. A horizontal line (we'll call this AB), and a vertical one (labelled CD in the picture here:

2 - Use the pair of compasses set to a radius of 5cm and draw a circle with the centre on lines AB and CD:

3 - Draw two more lines. One from point A, going through the top of the circle, and one from B, through the same point:

4 - Use the centre of these two new lines (AF and BE) to draw a circle with a radius of 3cm:

5 - Draw a large arc (radius 10cm) with the centre point on B, it should touch points A and E:

6 - Repeat this on the other side, an arc (radius 10cm) with the centre point on A:

7 - Set the compasses back to the size of the circle you drew at the top (the distance between E and G, 3cm), and use them to make the mark labelled H on line CD:

8 - Draw a circle with the same radius (3cm) centred on H. Then draw in the two diagonal lines:

9 - The completed Egg Tangram outline:

Cut along the bold lines to make an egg puzzle with 9 separate pieces.

Now, see if you can put the pieces together to make any of these strange bird designs.

Have fun.

What other shapes or patterns can you make with the pieces?