Mandala Designs

These are some examples of  the awesome work students have been doing while creating their Mandala Designs. 

Mandala Designs

Students used math skills during art in order to equally divide a circle while making their own Mandala Designs.
 

Visual "Tricks"

OP Art

Op Art is short for Optical Art, art that "tricks" the eye.  This project is one that kids enjoy as they see the results of their line and pattern choices.  It has a great mathematical connection when revisiting concepts like even numbers, AB patterns, shapes, perspective, etc.

  This time we incorporated technology for those who wanted to try it.

 

 

 

Students were allowed to use a digital camera to photograph a pose that they thought would add to the visual interest of their work. 

 

 

 

Here's a tutorial on how to get started. 

 



Fine Arts Frenzy 2015

I visited the final day of this year's Fine Arts Frenzy.   Kids were exploring science, math and art.   Mrs. Howard did a great job with the kids! Here are a some examples of their work. 

 

 

Lids, Lights, Foam and More

This summer I had the opportunity to work on the set for a local production of Annie Jr.  Sometimes the most unlikely materials come together to create some of most interesting things.  We needed decorative corners for our entrance to the Roxy Theatre. 

Plastic lids, cardboard, and small cardboard tubes joined with hot glue

A little flat latex paint

Added to the set

The next challenge was to make lighted signs for this scene.  This involved reusing some very study foam core signboard, a little math (to figure out how to space the bulbs, etc.), some painting and a whole lot of drilling. 

 

 

 

Art in Parts

Students in grades 4 and up demonstrated their knowledge of fractions through the art of origami.  They were allowed to choose colors that would represent a fraction of the total parts in each of their designs.  They glued them onto black construction paper when they were finished with folding and assembling.  The final step was to write a math problem or math statement that was true about their art. 

Wayne Thiebaud

During Fine Arts Frenzy 2012, third grade students had the opportunity to learn about the artist WayneThiebaud.  They practiced what they had been learning about fractions by looking at his painting, Cakes, 1963 and answering math questions about the painting.  Once the students finished with our review, they were allowed to paint their own dessert art using tempera paint. 

Here are a few examples of what students chose to create. 

Fractions in Art

Fine Arts Frenzy: Math

Students learned about fractions through music, art, and dance this summer.  Here is one of the projects they worked on during art. 

Peacock Fractions



I modified this project from one that was featured on the smART class blog.

Students made the marbled paper by using shaving cream and concentrated liquid watercolor. They loved making their own paper designs.

They used cool colors for the large part of the feathers and warm colors for the circles.

They also painted their hands with washable tempera paints and made a print for the head of their peacock.   The neck was to be painted on with a brush after they finished their print. 

We used a clean spot on this sheet to draw the eye and colored it with crayons.

I provided a template for the feathers and circles since our time was limited.  Once everything was painted and cut out, students assembled their projects using glue sticks. 

We reviewed what they had been learning about fractions and practiced drawing equal parts in pencil before drawing the actual fraction circles on their feathers with Sharpie markers.