Interactive Tangrams
Build, move and transform colourful tangram pieces to create shapes, solve visual puzzles and explore geometry in a hands-on way.
⭐️ Best used in full screen mode!
Teacher Notes
Curriculum Links
This tool supports the Shape and Space strand of the Irish Primary Mathematics Curriculum, particularly the Transformation strand unit. Tangrams are especially useful for exploring how shapes can be moved, combined and rearranged through rotation, reflection and translation, while also developing spatial reasoning and problem-solving. It is suitable across 1st Class – 6th Class, with increasingly complex challenges as children progress. Curriculum Online
Children can use Tangram Builder to:
combine and decompose shapes, solve spatial puzzles, rotate and reflect pieces, explore how shapes fit together, create figures from geometric parts, compare different solutions, visualise transformations, and explain the strategies they used to complete a design.
Lesson Ideas
Copy the Shape
Show children a completed tangram image and ask them to recreate it using the seven pieces. Encourage them to look carefully at size, position and orientation.
Turn, Flip and Fit
Choose one piece and explore how rotating or reflecting it changes the way it fits. Ask children to describe the transformation they used.
Make Your Own
Challenge children to create their own picture or design using all seven tangram pieces. They can then swap designs with a partner to recreate.
Related Tools
Check out some other interactive tools to help children with number sense.
Algebra Scales
Explore balance, equality, unknown values and equations using interactive scales.
Bar Models
Represent part-whole, comparison and word problems using clear visual bar models.
Pentominoes
Build and fit pentomino pieces to solve puzzles, explore shape, and develop spatial reasoning.
Want More Visual Maths Tools?
Browse the full library of free interactive maths tools for primary classrooms.
