Guest blogger Erin Bittman from E is for Explore is doing a cross-curricular series on art and math. Come back every Tuesday to see a new post and to find out how you can take mathematical learning to the next level.
While you’re teaching your students about edges and corners of shapes, create geometric art!
You’ll need:
- pencils
- rulers
- markers
Have your students connect all of the vertices of a hexagon using a ruler. Next, tell them to closely examine their hexagon. Do they see any shapes within it (triangles and quadrilaterals)? Then, have students estimate how many triangles they created within their hexagon by connecting their vertices. The answer is 110! Here is a video that shows how many triangles there are if the short diagonal is removed from NPR.
After the video, create art! Students can choose to color in triangles or quadrilaterals. They can also add more lines to create a more intricate design. You can have them make their design symmetrical or have the art be completely open-ended.
Erin Bittman is currently a student at the University of Cincinnati, earning a degree in Early Childhood Education (grades K-3). She originally graduated with a fashion design degree and worked in the design industry for five years. Her teaching philosophy revolves around constructivism and problem-based learning. Her goal is to inspire teachers to ditch the books! Creative alternatives can be implemented in lessons that prepare students for standardized testing. Learning should be fun!
More Math and Art Activities from Erin Bittman
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