Tessellation Art Project for Kids


Tessellations are a fun way for school aged kids to practice creativity, drawing and cutting skills while focusing on patterns. This project requires few supplies making it perfect for the home or classroom.

completed tessellation projects of mans face and rainbow colored fish - kids activities blog
A fun project using patterns

What is a Tessellation?

A tessellation is when a geometric shape (or tile) repeats itself over and over again, covering a 2D or 3D surface without any gaps or overlaps. 

My Modern Met

We will be creating a basic form of tessellations within this project, opening the door for kids to further explore this concept. By starting simple, we give kids a chance to express their creativity before getting overwhelmed by complex designs.

Related: Explore more patterns with our Mandala Art Project!

Supplies Needed to Make This Tessellation Art Project

supplies for tessellation art project include tracing paper, cardstock squares, pencils, tape, scissors, etc. - kids activities blog
Very few supplies are needed for this project
  • Cardstock “Tile” – Cut into a Square (We used 3 inch squares)
  • Tracing Paper
  • Pencil
  • Tape
  • Colored Medium of Choice – Crayons, Colored Pencils, Markers
  • Permanent Marker

Directions to Make Tessellation Art

Step 1

step 1 - cut top off of square paper tile - kids activities blog
first, cut the top off of the square paper tile

Kids cut the top completely off the square “tile” by using a shaped line. The cut can be any shape but needs to cover the entire width of the tile.

Step 2

step 2 - cut piece taped to the bottom of the paper tile - kids activities blog
Tape cut piece to the bottom of the tile

Without changing the direction of the cut shape, slide it to the bottom of the square. Tape across the full length of the seam. Then, rotate the tile to place an uncut flat edge at top.

Important: The design must line up directly from top to bottom. If cut lines do not line up then the kids’ patterns will not fit together correctly. I often remind kids of how we are basically making a puzzle piece so everything needs to line up perfectly to complete our patterned “puzzle” design.

Step 3

step 3 - top piece cut from paper tile - kids activities blog
again, cut a piece from the top of the square

Next, kids cut a piece from the new “top” of the original square.

Step 4

step 4 - tape cut piece to the bottom of the tile - kids activities blog
attach cut piece to the bottom of the tile

Without changing the direction of the cut shape, slide it to the bottom of the original square. Tape at the seam, again keeping everything in line.

Step 5

step 5 - draw design on tessellation paper tile - kids activities blog
Discover what is hidden in the new tile shape!

Kids now look at the new tile shape, turning it in various directions, to see what it resembles. Using a pencil, kids sketch their design on the tile.

Step 6

step 6 - place tracing paper over tessellation tile and trace design - kids activities blog
trace tile design onto tracing paper

Next, Center the tile under a piece of tracing paper. Trace along the outer edge and design of tile.

Step 7

step 7 - boy tracing tessellation tile onto racing paper using a pencil. - kids activities blog
continue to trace the tile until page is complete

Slide the tile in any direction and trace to add more tiles to the page. If the tile was cut correctly, all pieces should fit together like a puzzle or tiled floor.

Some tiles will “hang” off the page, but kids still need to draw in those designs. I remind students this is like we’re zoomed in on one portion of a puzzle or tiled floor. We just don’t see all of the design.

Step 8 (Optional)

step 8 -  trace design using permanent marker and erase any unnecessary pencil lines - kids ativities blog
erase any unwanted pencil lines

Trace design using permanent marker, erase any unnecessary pencil lines, and color.

Finished Tessellation Art Project

completed tessellations of rainbow fish and man's head - kids activities blog
our completed tessellation masterpieces!

I love how these projects turn out each year! It is so much fun to see how each child starts with the same basic tile shape but all of the finished projects look unique. Since these projects are made on paper, they are easily framed, clipped, or displayed in your preferred style. 

Our Experience Making this Tessellation Art Project

This is one of those projects that I tend to repeat yearly because it gives kids a chance to express their creativity and uniqueness. Even if the kids have taken my class before, tessellations give a different finished result each time based on the child’s tile shape.

Prep Time
5 minutes

Active Time
45 minutes

Total Time
50 minutes

Difficulty
Medium

Estimated Cost
$1

Materials

  • Cardstock “Tile” – Cut into a Square (We used 3 inch squares)
  • Tracing Paper

Tools

  • Pencil
  • Tape
  • Colored Medium of Choice – Crayons, Colored Pencils, Markers
  • Permanent Marker

Instructions

  1. Kids cut the top completely off the square “tile” by using a shaped line.
  2. Without changing the direction of the cut shape, slide it to the bottom of the square. Tape across the full length of the seam. Rotate tile to place an uncut flat edge at top.
  3. Cut a shaped piece from the new “top” of the original square.
  4. Without changing the direction of the cut shape, slide it to the bottom of the original square. Tape at the seam.
  5. Sketch design on the tile.
  6. Center the tile under a piece of tracing paper. Trace along the outer edge and design of tile.
  7. Slide the tile in any direction and trace to add more tiles to the page. If the tile was cut correctly, all pieces should fit together like a puzzle or tiled floor.
  8. Optional: Trace design using permanent marker, erase any unnecessary pencil lines, and color.

Notes

Tessellation Art Variations

  • Use transfer paper to transfer tile image onto another type of paper.
  • Adjust size of tessellation tiles to allow different pattern sizes. I generally have younger kids create larger, less detailed, tiles.
  • Use a light box or sunny window to trace tile design onto copy paper.

Tessellation Art Variations

  • Use transfer paper to transfer tile image onto another type of paper.
  • Adjust size of tessellation tiles to allow different pattern sizes. I generally have younger kids create larger, less detailed, tiles.
  • Use a light box or sunny window to trace tile design onto copy paper.

Other Fun Patterned Art Projects from Kids Activities Blog

Did your kids enjoy creating tessellations? What designs did they create?



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