The Art of Mathematics: A Club for Learning Math Through Art (Ages 8-11)

Learning and memorizing mathematics skills from textbooks is important, but being able to demonstrate those skills to create something shows that the students concretely understand the idea. In this ongoing class, I will introduce a new art project every week that reinforces (and teaches) math concepts. The math concepts will be generalized and based upon the students level and needs. I will try to tune them to the age and abilities of the students, with the knowledge that many of these concepts can be introduced before they are studied in school. For example, a student does not need to understand the use of Pi, before knowing what Pi is and using the numbers in an art project to reinforce their knowledge of the numbers.

Basic materials will be needed, such as a compass, ruler, card stock, and paint, etc. Please refer to the master supply list for more information. Having these supplies on hand will enable students to complete most classes. I will also post a list in the classroom the week before each class with a summary of our class and a list of the required materials for the week. 

The students may need to print a few pages on occasion, but I will try to keep the printing to a minimum. 

A few of the math skills that will be explored are:

- Concentric Circles: Using a compass and watercolor paints, we will explore concentric circles
- Converging Lines: Investigating converging lines and perspective  
- Perspective: Studying perspective by designing a cityscape 
- Pi: Make a Pi-inspired city skyline
- Fibonacci Numbers and fractions: Exploring Wassily Kandinsky using a compass to cut and create a multi-layered project.
- Multiplication: Multiplication Houses designed and decorated to the child’s liking, but with a hidden agenda…to teach multiplication 
  tables.
- Fractions: Exploring fractions through flag art
- Word Problems: Illustrating word problems
- Time: Telling time using an analog "color wheel" clock
- Patterns and Tessellations: Tessellation Artist MC Escher and making tessellations; Creating patterns in shapes
  …and more 

Everything subject to change based on needs of the class and determination of the teacher.

Upcoming lessons:

October 2-8: Leaf Mandalas- Using leaf shapes, we will create Mandalas with black and white patterns
 October 9-15: Cubist Fall Trees- We will create colorful cubist style autumn trees
October 16-22: Parabolic Curve Spiderwebs- We will create spooky Halloween pictures (or happy autumn pictures,) with a parabolic curve spider web in the corner
October 23-29: Skeleton Names- Using symmetry, we will create skeletons from our names
October 30-Nov 5: Autumn Quilts We will create autumn quilts from geometric shapes
Nov 6-12: Texture Turkeys- While experimenting with texture, we will create turkeys from large geometric shapes
Nov 13- 19: Outdoor Scene- While learning about halves and doubles, we will use graph paper to create an outdoor scene
Nov 20-26: No Class- Happy Thanksgiving!