Class activity - Using the tangram
In this class activity, we were given a piece of paper to cut into seven specific pieces. These would form the pieces of a tangram (Chinese: 七巧板). The tangram originated in China during the Song Dynasty (Chinese: 宋朝), and deemed by a Chinese psychologist as "the earliest psychological test in the world".
The objective of the puzzle is to use the seven pieces to form a specific shape/object without overlapping. With these pieces, I was able to create shapes that resemble a house, a bird, a shark (even if I probably cheated by overlapping), and a sail boat.
Using the tangram was an interesting experience to know about one of the earliest puzzle games, and to understand it's entertainment and psychological value with the seven unique pieces.
History source: Jiannong Shi (2 February 2004). Robert J. Sternberg, ed. International Handbook of Intelligence. Cambridge University Press. pp. 330–331. ISBN 978-0-521-00402-2.
