Tangram Play


Problem

Young learners often struggle with understanding how smaller parts combine to form larger patterns or objects. The goal of this project was to create an engaging tangram-based puzzle game that encourages children to think spatially, recognize shapes, and experiment with different arrangements through interactive play.

Approach

I designed the game as a drag-and-drop puzzle experience where players arrange geometric pieces to match target silhouettes and patterns. The focus was on making the interaction intuitive and visually rewarding for Grades 1–3 learners while reinforcing computational thinking concepts such as decomposition, pattern recognition, and spatial reasoning. The system was built with clear snapping behavior, visual feedback, and simple progression mechanics to encourage experimentation without frustration.

Key Features

  • Interactive drag-and-drop tangram gameplay
  • Shape matching and silhouette-based puzzles
  • Snap-to-position logic for accurate placement
  • Progressive difficulty with increasingly complex arrangements
  • Child-friendly visual design and feedback system

  • These choices ensured the system remained easy to debug, reason about, and expand.

    Key Learnings

  • Spatial reasoning activities help strengthen early computational thinking skills
  • Simple interaction systems can create meaningful problem-solving experiences
  • Visual feedback and forgiving mechanics improve engagement for younger learners
  • Puzzle-based learning benefits from gradual complexity progression

  • This project strengthened my understanding of designing educational gameplay systems that balance learning objectives with accessibility and fun.

    Tools & Technologies

  • Unity
  • C#

  • Future Improvements

  • Timed challenge and scoring system
  • Hint system for younger learners
  • Additional themed puzzle packs
  • Level progression and achievement tracking