What is a Frieze Pattern?
1. Tell the students that they are going to learn about frieze patterns, which are designs made from horizontal or vertical repetitions of the same shape. As a class, read about frieze patterns at the following website: http://www.nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=1341 2. Discuss how the patterns are created and review each of the seven patterns listed below: • Translation • Glide reflection • Two parallel reflections • Two half turns • A reflection and a half turn • Horizontal reflection • Three reflections Show the students the patterns at the following website: http://plato.acadiau.ca/Courses/educ/Reid/Geometry/Symmetry/frieze.html 3. As a class, explore additional examples of frieze patterns from the following websites: • Frieze Designs in Indigenous Art http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/RR/database/RR.09.01/mcdonald1/ • Frieze Design in Southern Africa beadwork http://sunsite.wits.ac.za/math/frieze.htm • Frieze Patterns in Cast Iron http://www.nrich.maths.org/content/98/11/art1
