Vedic Square Math Art

This math art project comes from Miss Bowler's Partridge Class! Kids practice their multiplication tables while creating art! They have to problem solve when filling in their Vedic Square. Their square should not include any two-digit numbers. If the solution is a two digit number for one of their boxes, they must add the numbers in the ones and tens place together to obtain a single digit. For example, 4x4 equals 16. Instead of writing 16 in the box they write 7 (1+6=7).

After they fill in their square, they look for patterns. They can further investigate patterns by choosing one number and connecting it to the same numbers throughout the square. For example, connect all 4's to each other.

Next, they can color in the squares to create a design. Then, they can count up the squares and write a fraction for each color. How many times did the number one show up in the Vedic Square (6/ 81)? They can make copies of their design, transform the pieces (reflection and rotation) to create one large, colorful piece of art. Visit Miss Bowler's page for more details!

Click here for a Vedic Square printable. Check out more multiplication art here: Art in Numbers: Multiplication Patterns

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?!

Art in Numbers: Multiplication Patterns

Practice your multiplication tables by creating grid paper designs from Sharynideas! Kids identify patterns in their multiplication tables. When they identify a repeating pattern, they create art! Check out the activity here! Also, visit NRich Math for a slightly different way to create designs from your times tables!

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!

Marshmallow Kebab Math

Fraction Kebab: Create a marshmallow kebab of fractions! Grab a bag of mini colored marshmallows and have kids stab them onto a wooden skewer. Then, they figure out the fraction for each color. Afterwards, make a graph to represent which color was the most popular.

Place Value Kebab: Don't tell your students what each marshmallow color is worth. Have them choose their marshmallow colors and stab them on their skewer. Then, write the value for each color on the board and have them figure out their number. Is their number even or odd? Who had the largest number? Whose number was the smallest? Did anyone have the same number?

For more marshmallow learning games, check out Marshmallows 101!

Note: You could substitute fruit for marshmallows for a healthier kebab

Musical Fractions

Kids explore fractions, while writing a colorful melody, without even knowing how to read music! Fill glasses up with different fractions of water and add food coloring. Provide students with paper to write their songs. Have kids make a hypothesis about why the glasses of water project different sounds. Is it the color of the water: No! Kids will be wowed at how water level makes an impact on the sound that projects from each glass. The fraction of water in each glass produces a different pitch.

Paperclip Math

1. Hands on Math: Paperclip Equations (also can be done with fact families)
2. The Longest Chain - First, have students estimate how many paperclips they think they can link in a certain amount of time. Then, set a timer and have students make a chain as quickly as possible! Measure the paperclip chains. Who created the longest? Who's guess was the closest to their actual number? 
3. Just my size - Have kids estimate how many paperclips it would take to create a chain the same height as them. 
4. Mean, Median, Mode, Range - Race to make a chain! When time is up, kids count how many clips they linked. Write down the number of clips they linked on the board from lowest to highest. Next, find the mean, add up all their scores and divide the sum by how many teams there were. Then, circle the number that falls in the middle (median). Mode - did anyone have the same number of paper clips on their chain? Finally, find the range: subtract the lowest score from the highest.
5. Paperclip patterns: link colors to create a pattern.
6. Floating Paperclip! - Visit Science Bob for a paperclip science experiment about surface tension.

Paper People Chain Math

Math / Art that focuses on UNITY!! Kids explore symmetry, powers of 2 and multiplying fractions by creating a standard chain. - OR - by creating an alternating chain, they investigate reflection and patterns!! Paper people chain mathematics: visit Big Learning for details!

To construct an alternating paper people chain (right arm up, left arm up), draw a full figure on the top square of your accordion paper. Make sure the hands extend to touch the folds. For a regular paper people chain, you only need to draw half a person on the top square of your accordion.

For How To Instructions:
Craft Jr, Kiddley, or About - full figure example
TLC - half figure example

What Can You Do With A Leaf?!

Leaf Surface Area - Practice non-standard measuring with leaves, great way to introduce the concept of area. Visit Kindergarten Lessons for more details and measuring ideas! PBS has a fun activity that integrates science and math. Kids shine a flashlight on a leaf and trace its shadow on grid paper to find the area of a leaf!

Leaf Symmetry - Check out the cool art project Beautiful Ideas did!

Science - Is a Green Leaf Really Green? Click here to find out! Also, check out Exploring Life Community's photosynthesis experiment!
Create a Leaf Skeleton - ehow

Descriptive Writing - "Meet My Leaf, " free printable from Scholastic
Leaf Descriptions - Set up a leaf station in your classroom. Kids work in pairs. One child describes a leaf. The other child has to find the correct leaf. This activity is a great way for kids to learn the importance of detail (adjectives) and comprehension (listening skills).

Leaf Hunt, Tally, Graph, Fractions - Classic activity that's always popular with young students. Go on a leaf hunt outside around the school yard. Have kids tally their leaves. Then, as a class, graph your findings! Afterwards, have kids write the fraction for each color found. Younger kids could also practice their patterning skills with colored leaves.

Leaf Art - Who doesn't like leaf rubbings! If kids color nicely, they could show leaf transformations for a geometry unit. Have them use one leaf and make their rubbings in different colors. Leaf texture via Jimmie Homeschool Mom - flickr commons

Just Dance! Patterns

Mrs. T's First Grade Class became choreographers, creating a dance while learning math at the same time! Kids used their patterning skills to create their very own original dance! First they made a cube train pattern. Then, they created a movement to represent each color. For example, ABBC pattern: (red, blue, blue, green) spin, arm roll, arm roll, drop to the floor. Kids practice patterning and gain confidence in dance! Check it out here!

Lego Learning Games

1. Walnut Hills Homeschool created a story book with lego scenes kids create. Kids makeup a story line and build a scene for each page in their book. Not only are they the authors, they are the illustrators too! Their lego creations are the illustrations for their book.

2. Graph legos - Happy to be Homeschooling my Children.

3. Lego Addition: Make math fun by having kids add legos! - Sixkents

4. Have kids construct sentences and words with legos. They get to write and build at the same time! - Chalk Talk and Happy to be Homeschooling my Children

5. Make patterns with legos: AB, ABB, and ABC! - Keen on Kindergarten