Half Yellow

Visit We Are Teachers to check out Half Yellow Fraction Art with geometric pattern blocks!

Art History Math Integration

Check out my post over at We Are Teachers! Students learn about artists while creating their own art using their math skills!

Asymmetrical Starburst

Students explore geometry and art by creating asymmetrical starburst designs!

1. Draw a line segment 3 to 5 inches long in the center of the paper.
2. Make dots around the line segment. (No dots on the horizontal line)
10 dots (5 above, 5 below for younger students / 15-20 dots for older students)
3. Connect the dots! - but, in a pattern. (Connect one end of the line segment to a dot, back to the other end of the line segment) - repeat (end of line segment-dot-other end of line segment) - use a ruler

Note: To simplify this project have children make their horizontal line a different color or add bright colored dots to the end of the line segment. Then, they will be able to see where they draw their lines to.

Math Connection:
Visit I Love That Teaching Idea for questions to ask children while they are constructing!

Mathematical Op Art

Students use their math skills to create op art! First, have students come up with a measurement for their line spacing between their parallel lines. The example has a 1/2 inch gap between each line. After students draw their parallel lines with a ruler, they choose five polygons to include in their composition. They draw their shapes using a ruler. Once their shapes are drawn, they create an AB pattern using two different colored markers, coloring around their shapes. Then, they go back and color their shapes to create an optical illusion! (see example).

Polygon Patterns

Explore vertices and diagonals while seeking patterns in polygons! Have kids predict the number of diagonals a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, and octagon have. Split kids up into teams. Then, have them problem solve by drawing diagonals on shape outlines. Make sure kids use different colored markers for each diagonal (so they can count them). Also, have a teammate tally each diagonal drawn. Can they find a pattern?! How many diagonals does a hexadecagon have?!

Pass the Paper!

This math art collaboration project comes from Incredible Art! Kids show their knowledge of geometry terms by creating art! Each child is given a piece of paper. They are given an instruction (such as make 3 dots). Then, they pass their sheet of paper. Another instruction is given (ex: use a compass to create 3 circles from the 3 dots). Students draw on their peers' paper. Then, they pass the paper. Papers get passed around until they reach their "owner." The owner embellishes the line drawing to create a unique piece of art!

Thaumatropes

Integrate art, math, science, as well as history by constructing a thaumatrope! Kids use their measuring skills and imagination to create a paper animation! "Thaumatropes are optical illusions that operate by switching between two images so rapidly that the images appear as one." - Molecular Expressions. Video by EllieBTECMedia

How to incorporate in your classroom:

Geometry - Have kids figure out the area of their circle or rectangle, as well as circumference and perimeter. You could also have them try making different shapes for their thaumatrope besides the basic circle, rectangle, or square.

Science - Create thaumatropes that go along with your unit (ex: weather: lightning and dark skies on one side and clear skies with puffy white clouds on the other). Also, states of matter: ice cube melting. They could also do a volcano erupting or a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. Kids can get super creative with the project!

History - Check it out here!

Four different ways to construct a thaumatrope! All you need is cardstock, a hole puncher, glue/tape and one of the materials below. You can draw, use photos, or write messages to create your optical illusion!

Rubber Band (you need 2)

Wooden Skewer

Straw

String

Translation Tessellation

A super simple tessellation for young students: translation tessellation! Kids are given a square. They cut a piece off of the left and tape or glue it on to the right. Next, they cut a piece off of the top and add it to the bottom (see image below). Then, they use their imagination and create a creature out of their irregular polygon. Once their creature is made they trace it, learning about the transformation: translation (slide)! Their pattern piece should fit perfectly (interlocking) creating a pattern with no overlaps or gaps! They can create an AB or ABC pattern with the colors they use! You can also talk about parallel lines. Their tessellation pattern runs in horizontal parallel lines! Click here to see how to create a rotation tessellation!

Spiral Triangles

Geometric Art: Create a spiral design using equilateral triangles! To create the design, start out with a large triangle. Then, cut out a triangle thats side is the same length of the large triangle's height. Paste the side of the triangle along the the center of the larger triangle, so it covers half of the large triangle. Keep on creating smaller triangles with sides that match the previous triangle's height to create a spiral!

Line Drawing: Polygon Investigator

Integrate math and art by creating a line drawing. Kids use a ruler and draw random lines on paper. Then, they become polygon investigators! They examine their artwork and color in polygons that have the same number of sides.

Shape Trading Cards

Kids draw the shape and fill out the back of the cards. Click here for the printable.

Note: Don't cut along the center line. The card folds in half, so there is a front and back.

Stained Glass Art Project

Mathy McMatherson had his students design and write a proposal for a stained glass window. Students had to stay within their price range and listen to their client's wants / needs. Check it out on his Bloggy McBloggerson!

Keerplunk

Read Shel Silverstein's poem "Shapes" aloud to students. As they listen, have them follow along at their desk with a set of paper shape cutouts (rectangle, square, triangle, circle, as well as a couple of other shapes not included in the poem). Afterwards, have them retell key details from the poem in order, using their cutouts to help guide them. (What fell from the sky? Who went to the hospital? Who rolled him there? etc.) Then, have them create their own shape poem or comic strip, involving any four shapes they'd like! Encourage them to choose at least one shape that wasn't in Silverstein's poem.

Strongest Shape

Geometry experiment from Zoom, which shape is the strongest? Check it out here!

photos via Zoom

Toothpick Math Puzzles

Geometric "match stick puzzles" that help develop problem solving and critical thinking skills. For more puzzles to try, check out AIMS Center!

Polygon Alphabet

Integrate typography into a geometry lesson! How many letters can you find that reveal a hidden polygon if you add 1, 2, 3, or 4 line segments to the letter? Print off an alphabet sheet and have students hunt for polygons! Then, have them record how many letters they found with hidden polygons for each number of line segments. Example: 1 line segment: 4 letters (A, L, P, V)

Polygon Quilt Game

This awesome game was created by Amy's Geometry (team lacoe.edu - Los Angeles County Office of Education)! Kids take turns coloring in a small triangle on the quilt board. When a player creates a polygon, he or she earns points. The tricky part is that each polygon must consist of only 4 mini triangles. The one with the most points at the end wins! Check it out here (board included)! Also, there is a free printable on docstoc created by seg11239 from lacoe.edu! (game board featured below)

Koch Snowflake

Integrate art and geometry by constructing a Koch Snowflake. Students draw an equilateral triangle. Then, they keep adding smaller equilateral triangles to create a symmetrical snowflake. See this project in action here!

View a kid version over at 4 Kids 2 Guinea Pigs! - plus step by step instructions.

Visit Wonder How To: Math Craft to see how to construct a koch snowflake out of pennies!

Check out Hektor for 3-dimensional versions!

Marshmallows 101

Chemistry - Have fun munching and constucting a marshmallow atom!
Featured above:
3D model - Angelfire
Paper Plate "Electron Shells" - The Daniel Academy
2D model - Lights, Camera, Learn

More atom activities:
Over-sized outdoor atom on the blacktop - 5th Grade Rocks, 5th Grade Rules - kids play the role of the protons, neutrons, and electrons! Plus, many more hands on projects!
Scholastic - Chemistry for 3rd graders - lots of activities that kids can snack on!

photo via adventures of first grade

Geometry - If you don't eat all of your marshmallows, save them for a the classic toothpick and mini marshmallow geometry lesson! Kids construct outlines of 3D solids, as well as polygons. This is a great activity to help kids count the vertices of shapes! (Note: You will want to use dried spaghetti for the rectangular prism to get the correct number of vertices) Visit Adventures of First Grade for details! There is even a scavenger hunt to go along with this activity!

photo credit Tufts Now

Engineering - You can also just have fun free stylin'! Kids can become mini engineers and build skyscrapers and bridges! Who can make the tallest structure without it collapsing?! - link for tall structures here!

Fractions with Pattern Blocks

Teacher Blogspot simplified fractions for students with the use of pattern blocks! I really like this idea. So, I turned it into a part, part, whole activity! 

Check out Illuminations and Cynthia Lanius for free printables to go along with this lesson!

For younger kids, check out Joyful Learning in KC's Eric Carle Math with pattern blocks!
Use pattern blocks for missing addends, click here and scroll down!
Click here to see this activity with coins!