Math art projects are a unique way to combine right and left brain learning. Both my boys enjoy math, but they often balk when I suggest, "let's do an art project!" It's sort of depressing for me, since I'd much rather get out the paints than perform calculations. My solution has been to make math learning creative with math art projects and activities.
I need to get better about taking photos of our math art sessions. Perhaps now that I have a new camera I can get some decent pictures. But I digress. Anyway... I thought it would be fun to round up some math art ideas that we've tried, plus a few I've found on the internet that are in my virtual "to try" pile.
The best thing about all of these math art projects is that they will get math kids thinking about art and art kids thinking about math!
Math Art Projects and Ideas
Tessellations. We've done this several times, and somehow it never gets boring.
- See our how to make tessellations post.
- Three ways to make heart tessellations.
- Easy cat tessellations
- Star tessellations - great for holiday art
Explore Symmetry.
- This is great for younger kids. You're probably familiar with the ol' fold the paper in half and smoosh trick. You can make symmetry art free style, like we did.
- Create gorgeous math art with parabolic curves. My son designed his own eyeball!!
- Create gorgeous objects like these butterflies from Buggy and Buddy.
- These symmetry art aliens make me smile.
Turn number sequences into art.
- We did this when we turned pi into a cityscape
- Spirolaterals will help your kids practice their multiplication tables.
- Create Fibonacci art with circles.
- This Fibonacci valentine from Math Four could be adapted for any time of the year.
Use math tools to create art. This is one of my favorite ideas!
- It can be really simple, like simply giving your kids a ruler, compass and protractor and see what they come up with. If using a compass is tricky, see my tip for drawing mandalas with a compass.
- I love this protractor art project that evokes Frank Stella's artwork.
- Use a ruler to create sunburst paintings, like these at Art Bar.
Explore math art with shapes.
- The boys love to play around with our homemade Montessori triangles. They don't even think about the fact that they are creating artistic designs!
- Explore Möbius strips, or make Möbius hearts
- Make your own peek-a-boo shape book - free printable template.
- Paint a Mondrian window.
- Build a fractal Christmas tree
- Explore triangle math with a heart geometry puzzle
- E is for Explore has a few ways kids can use Kandinsky inspired art to think about about circles and relative size.
- Use a geoboard. We were gifted a cheesy plastic geoboard, but Crayon Box Chronicles has instructions so you can make your own.
What do your kids prefer, math or art? Do you ever do math art projects with the kids?
Jodie @ Growing Book by Book says
Love these ideas. Actually, I love incorporating art with all subject areas. 🙂
Bon Crowder (@mathfour) says
Thanks for the recommendation! I did love that Fibonacci Valentine craft. And you are so right - you can do it for St. Pat's day with shamrocks, stars on July 4, etc.
MelissaS says
Where are those tiles from in the picture?
Erica MomandKiddo says
Good question! They are from a Melissa and Doug pattern block toy set.
Chris Daley says
The updated URL for the fish tessellation idea is http://artprojectsforkids.org/fish-tessellation/
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you! I have updated the post.
Bohdan Rhodehamel says
I stumbled across your site when my wife sent me a link to one of your book lists. Your Math Art tag immediately caught my eye.
You might be interested in our website, informalmathematics.org. Have a look, and keep an eye out as we slowly build up our content. In particular, check out the post on anamorphosis. Your sons will dig the projective geometry and you'll be happy to see them immersed in creating art.
Cheers,
Bohdan
Kathy says
I love your math ideas. I teach geometry and I am always trying to find unique things to show my students to capture their interest. Hopefully they will learn to love math!
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thanks so much, Kathy. Math art is definitely my favorite aspect of math!
Michelle says
math is my favorite subject to!!!!!!!
nicole says
I'm very excited to have found your website. I think doing some math art will encourage my art-resistant 7 year old boy while illustrating various math concepts. What 'math art' books are your go-to titles?
Erica MomandKiddo says
Hi Nicole. I love the book "Growing Patterns" by Sarah Campbell, for inspiration in nature, and for projects I am currently loving Hands On Math Projects by Andrew King, and MathART Projects by Carolyn Ford Brunetto is another good one.
Sam Hamil says
Hi Nicole, here's another great book with lots of math art projects:
https: //www.mathartprojects.com/
I especially like the activities about volume, perpendicular/parallel lines, and angles.
melvin din says
I have been combining Maths, art and electronics into woodwork projects.
I strongly believe in integrated hands on project based learning with some room for inquiry.
These examplars ave given me a food for thought and I am heading back to my wood workshop to innovate old projects with some Fibonacci golden ratios.
Gopesh says
Great Projects.... My small cousin would be very excited. Would be great if u could send me more.
Priyank Pandey says
Wow! some great ideas for the kids. Will surely share with my subscribers.