Teaching Maths Through Artistic Greats

From Erin Bittman: "Teach math with art! Students learn about famous artists while using their math skills.

Area Perimeter MondrianCombine art and math in this area/perimeter lesson, Piet Mondrian–style. Have kids lay out their artwork on grid paper (color in the squares). Next, have them figure out the area and perimeter of each "block," using their black grid lines as their guide. Optional: Have students re-create their designs using construction paper.

Literature connection: Coppernickel Goes Mondrian (Artist Tribute) by Wouter van Reek

Alexander Calder Shape MobilesStudents learn about geometric terms and basic shapes by creating hanging art. Students can create a quadrilateral family tree mobile, 3-D shape mobile or a mobile with various triangles, or hang geometry concepts to help further their understanding (such as: different angles or lines). Younger students can hang basic shapes that they are just learning to identify.

Science connection: Levers—can students find the center of balance? Students manipulate pre-cut stem wire (available in craft stores) to create "branches" (see image). Next, they cut geometric shapes out of construction paper, hole-punch their shapes and hook them on the mobile where they made loops. Then, they add string to the wire loop at the top to hang.

Literature connection: Sandy's Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder by Tanya Lee Stone

To integrate English language arts, students can create a secret word with their Calder mobiles. Shapes represent letters. Students make up a code. Next, they create a mobile of shapes that has their secret word. Then, they have their peers try to figure out the word they came up with! Check outSalamander Art for details! This lesson works in conjunction with the book The Calder Game by Blue Balliett.

Warhol ArraysInspired by Andy Warhol's art Campbell's Soup CansStudents collaborate and create a giant array of soup can art. Give each student one soup can template. They come up with a unique flavor, color it and cut it out. Next, working in small groups, students create three
different arrays using their soup cans. They write down their multiplication equations and solutions for each array they created. Then, as a class, students create a giant display of all of their soup cans and figure out the multiplication equation and solution to their collaborative array artwork! To integrate writing, students write a persuasive letter to the Campbell's Soup Company stating why their soup should be added to Campbell's soup line.

Literature connection: Fabulous: A Portrait of Andy Warholby Bonnie Christensen; Andy Warhol: Pop Art Painter by Susan Goldman Rubin

Klee: Polygon Detective1. Inspired by Paul Klee's Castle and SunShow students an image of the painting Castle and Sun. Havethem point out different polygons that they see within the painting. Afterwards, give children construction paper and have them make their own castle. First, they lay out the outline of their castle by drawing rectangles. Next, they draw lines, using a ruler, within their rectangles to create polygons within the rectangular outlines. Then, they look for and color in polygons that have the same number of sides (see image). Have the students add a sun and display their beautiful artwork!

Literature connection: The Cat and the Bird: A Children's Book Inspired by Paul Klee by Geraldine Elschner

Klee Math (Percentages and Area/Perimeter)
2. Inspired by Paul Klee's art FarbtafelStudents design a checkerboard inspired by Paul Klee's artwork Farbtafel. They measure and lay out their grid. Next, they come up with a color palette. Then, they figure out the fraction for each color they used and calculate the percentage of each color. They divide, multiply and round. Finally, they figure out the area and perimeter of their design.

Literature connection: Dreaming Pictures: Paul Klee (Adventures in Art (Prestel) by Paul Klee and Juergen von Schemm

Kandinsky MathInspired by Wassily Kandinsky's art Squares With Concentric Circles
Fractions: Students create a grid and divide the paper, exploring unit fractions.

Multiplication: They create an array of concentric circles and write down their equation.

Area and perimeter: Each design is contained within a square unit. What is the area and perimeter of their entire design?

Fractions: They write down the fraction for the main color of each square.

Note: Older students could use a math compass to create perfect circles and figure out the circumference of each circle (geometry).

You could use any art medium for this project (paint, crayon-resist art with watercolor, oil pastels or markers)."