Line Method

• Students can make a large tessellation design based on one wavy line.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Students will each need two sheets of tracing paper or thin, white printer paper. Draw a wavy line on one sheet of tracing paper. This wavy line will become the template for the tessellation design. Students must trace this wavy line three times, rotating the paper for each line and connecting the lines to form a triangle onto the blank tracing paper. Switch the papers so the paper with the triangle becomes the base sheet. Students now copy this triangle made of wavy lines onto the paper with the original single wavy line. Rotate the base triangle to fit like a puzzle piece into a side of the triangle traced on the top paper. Students trace the triangle again. Continue flipping and rotating the triangle creating the desired tessellation design.
  
  

Rectangle Base

• Students begin with a rectangle to create this tessellation.Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Give each student two pieces of tracing paper or thin, white printer paper. For the base of this design, students will need to draw a rectangle onto one paper. The blank tracing paper must be placed on the rectangle drawing and students draw a wiggly line along the edge of the rectangle that is showing through the tracing paper. Switch the papers so the rectangle is now on top. Students will trace the wiggly line onto both edges of the rectangle drawing. This rectangle with wavy lines can be tessellated throughout the paper by sliding and flipping the design. Encourage students to add shades of a color throughout the shapes.
  
  

Cut and Paste

• Cut a creative line in a square for this tessellation design,Polka Dot/Polka Dot/Getty Images
  
  Each student will need a small square of construction paper, tape and a piece of white paper to create a tessellation design using the cut and paste method. Students use scissors to cut any design down the middle of the construction paper square. The halves must be picked up and placed next to each other so the flat edges lie seamlessly next to each other. Tape this seam. Students use this paper as a tile to trace onto the white paper. This tile will fit next to the tracing of itself over and over throughout the paper without overlapping or leaving gaps. Fill the paper to create a tessellation design.
  
  

Creative Negative Space

• A repeated image placed adjacent to itself creates interesting negative space.Photos.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
  
  Students should cut a favorite picture or design from a magazine. Instruct students to place and trace this image evenly throughout the paper, forming a symmetrical design with each image top touching the next image bottom and each image side touching the next image side. When the paper is full of the designs students can add line detail and color to the depictions. The negative space between the images can now be looked at with a creative eye. Students must turn the paper at different angles while looking at the negative space to decide what new image they might best create in this space. Students can create a unique tessellation by using a pencil to add line details and crayons for color dimension.