Techniques for Creating Tessellations

Rotation Method

• Start with a triangle, quadrilateral or hexagon.

• Replace each side with a symmetric design crossing the midpoint on that side.

• Rotate the new figure about the midpoint of each side.

Translation Method

• Start with a parallelogram or hexagon.

• Alter one side as you wish and copy the alteration to the opposite side.

• Repeat for each pair of opposite sides.

• Translate (slide) the pieces to fit together.