The Art of Math (Intro): Drawing Optical Illusions
If you are ten to thirteen years old (age limit will be enforced) and you have a webcam on your computer, and you can draw a straight line and measure things with a ruler, then you can learn how to draw amazing optical illusions *and* connect them to math.
Kristin Garn, B.A., B.Ed
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(1,968)
Star Educator
What's included
1 live meeting
1 hrs 10 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
In this super fun hour, students between the ages of 10 - 13 yrs (no underage learners please!) who have a webcam will draw their way to refining their fine motor skills (minimum age is 10, maximum age is 13), while also learning how to connect simple geometry with fascinating optical illusions! We’ll learn how mathematicians like Roger Penrose worked with artists like MC Escher to popularize visual illusions using math and we'll use critical thinking skills to successfully draw “impossible” objects. Harvard studies have shown that too few math classes focus on helping students improve their spatial reasoning abilities. A critical building block for success in STEM, the ability to think and reason spatially will be a prime focus for this class. After completing this introductory lesson, students are encouraged to continue exploring the relationships between math and art with the follow up two-week class, “The Art of Math: Fractals and the Fibonacci Spiral” and the follow up one-time class, "More Art of Math"! THIS CLASS FILLS FAST! Classes run continuously on a daily and even twice daily basis. Requesting a class to start in fewer than 90 days is unlikely as this class books three to four months in advance. Thank you for understanding ;-) *PLEASE* do not request a section of this class to begin within less than 90 days. PLEASE NOTE that late arrivals will be *REMOVED* from class and required to transfer. This is because this is a *very* interactive class and students spend the entirety of this class drawing, receiving feedback, showing their work, learning how to show work in an online class, and refining math skills during every moment of this 70 minute class. Late arrivals are very disturbing to the flow of the class and will be removed and transferred. The first minutes of the class are dedicated to essential skills that will be used throughout the class. Students are expected to arrive to class on time so please check your Zoom connections before the class. *IMPORTANT*: PLEASE READ THE SUPPLY LIST BELOW AND ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ATTEND THIS CLASS WITH THE REQUIRED SUPPLIES. DO NOT CONTACT THE TEACHER TO ASK ABOUT UNDERAGE LEARNERS!! THANKS!!! :-)
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This class requires the continuous use of fine motor skills which are generally not sufficiently developed until students are AT LEAST TEN years of age. This class is specifically designed for students from age 10 to 13. Therefore, the minimum required age to register is 10 yrs and the maximum age is 13 yrs. Please DO NOT contact the teacher and ask to register students outside this age range! Emails asking to approve students outside the age range will not be answered. Thank you for respecting the age range of the class.
PLEASE NOTE that late arrivals will be removed from class and required to transfer. This is because this is a *very* interactive class and students spend the entirety of this class drawing, receiving feedback, showing their work, learning how to show work in an online class, and refining math skills during every moment of this 60 minute class. Late arrivals are very disturbing to the flow of the class and will be removed and transferred. The first minutes of the class are dedicated to essential skills that will be used throughout the class. Students are expected to arrive to class on time so please check your Zoom connections before the class.
Supply List
Students should bring regular (letter) sized unlined white paper (computer printer paper is good), a sharp pencil and a good eraser for drawing and any type of coloring art supplies they would like to use (colored pencils or pens or markers are best). This class requires the use of a standard school ruler that measures in either inches or centimeters or both (standard rulers of 12 inches or 30 cm required). The slideshow of the lecture will be provided to all students after the class so that they can continue to review how to use math to draw some interesting artwork. It is **required** that students have a webcam for this class so that they can show the teacher their drawings as they progress through the various activities. It is highly recommended that students practice holding paper up to their camera before attending this class, although this skill will be practiced in the first 10 minutes of the class (which is why late arrivals will be transferred).
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined October, 2017
4.8
1968reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Teaching Certificates
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Mathematics
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Music/Theater/Arts
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Winnipeg
Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from University of Winnipeg
I'm deeply dedicated to making math approachable and enjoyable for all students and these are a few ways I make my Outschool class adaptive for all:
1) Students can choose whether/how they engage in my class. Although video is required for this class, students can remain off camera and use their video only to show their artwork if they prefer. Video must be turned on for the entire class so that students can show supplies and drawings.
The minimum verbal communication I require is just an occasional chat message from a student to let me know they are there and that they are following along and I do require that student show their drawings using their webcam.
2) Please contact me if your child will have a non-parent assistant with them. Parents do not need permission to attend (offscreen) with their children so please do not email if you are the parent. As long as I have been told that a non-parent assistant will attend, assistants are welcome to join for part or all of the class (I've even had older siblings sit in after parents have contacted me to tell me this will happen). With advance notice, I've had many assistants "sit in" with learners, especially those who need a little help writing things down and/or reading what is on the screen. Whatever is needed to support a student is perfectly fine with me 😉
It is highly recommended that you contact me a day or two before the class to let me know if your learner will have a non-parent assistant with them since additional unregistered learners are not allowed in the class. However, you do not need to contact me if it will be a parent sitting beside the learner.
If your learner has significant behaviour or learning differences that will require me to alter my expectations or interaction with the learner, please include these details in your description field for your learner. I am unable to diagnose and respond to learning differences in real time without previous communication from an adult/parent. Thank you for understanding this.
Math is one of those subjects that causes anxiety in a lot of students so I try to make a lot of student interaction pretty easy like answering with thumbs up/thumbs down, answering in groups, having students ask each other for help, etc. My goal is to make my Outschool classroom a fun, safe and comfortable space for students to explore the wonders of math!Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$15
per classMeets once
70 min
Completed by 2311 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-13
4-8 learners per class
