Activity 4: Tessellations and Tilings

You will have met these types of shape patterns before.

Tessellations are patterns made with congruent shapes that totally cover a surface with no spaces in between e.g.


Tilings are patterns which can be composed of more than one shape and
which also totally cover a surface with no spaces showing e.g.


There are various patterns in the House that are tilings of various kinds. They can be found on

the wall stonework



the entrance hall



the kitchen court floor



Try to draw some of these and draw in axes of symmetry where appropriate.

Are any of these tessellations?

See what tiling patterns there are in your own home. Draw these and colour them in.

Look at outside brickwork in your area. These give specific tiling patterns called bonds. Try and find out more about these and see if you can draw what the different bonds look like.