Allow each child to take the shape and decorate it with colorful permanent markers. Have the students predict what will happen to the shape when it is placed in a bucket of water. Have the students test their predictions by placing the shapes in water. This activity works very well outside of the school building. After the sponges have expanded, wring the water from the sponges and have the students assemble the sponges to make a tessellation.
Students can then make tessellations on the sidewalk using their sponges and water.
Center 6 Have students write about what they have learned from their explorations with tessellations. They may also write stories about their tessellations.