Creating a Tangram puzzle from recycled materials is a fun and eco-friendly project. Start by gathering sturdy materials like old cardboard or plastic sheets. Cut a square from the material and then slice it into the seven traditional Tangram shapes: two large triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, one square, and one parallelogram. Use a template for accuracy if needed. This project recycles waste and provides a fantastic tool for enhancing spatial reasoning and creativity.
Collect materials. Find a flat piece of trash (FPT), styrofoam or cardboard works well. Then obtain scissors or a knife that will be able to cut through the trash.
Cut a side of the FPT that will be one side of a square. Use the cut piece to measure the other sides of the square.
Cut all the sides until...
you have a completed square.
Cut the two opposite corners diagonally.
Then cut across.
Put one of the triangles aside, and cut the other triangle in half to form two smaller triangles.
This is what you should have so far.
Set aside the two small triangles. Fold the big triangle as shown. If you cannot fold the FPT just estimate and skip to step 10.
Cut the big triangle as shown.
Cut the big triangle again to form the three pieces shown.
Pick up the piece to the right and cut as shown, forming a square and an even smaller triangle.
Pick up the piece to the left and cut as shown, forming a parallelogram and a triangle.
Putting back together and....you made a tangram puzzle!
Here is just one of the many possible images you can make.
Horse
Bird
Person sitting
Cat
Dancer
Rider
Camel
Rabbit
Balancer
| Authors | Ellen |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Cite as | Ellen (2015–2026). "How to make a Tangram Puzzle from recycled materials". Appropedia. Retrieved October 3, 2026. |