From May to June 2011, a pilot program was launched to focus on math and arts integration at Comly Elementary school. One Kindergarten, one second grade, two third grades, one fourth grade, and two fifth grade classes participated. Th classroom teachers selected particular math skills their students needed to review, and we developed projects to explore those specific skills through art.
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| Kindergarten number mosaic |
The Kindergarten class focused on number models and counting in a button mosaic. Each student was assigned a number, counting was practiced when counting out mosaic pieces, special pieces of sequins or pompoms were selected to represent their numbers, and laying out the individual pieces in an array helped review counting by 5s.
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| 2nd grade foursquare time story sketch |
The second grade focused on telling time and telling time stories. We created a group clock to use as a classroom practice clock, then we began a number story fabric collage project. Students started with a foursquare organizer for their sketches, and then used fabric scraps to illustrate their stories.
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| 2nd grade number story fabric collages |
Warm colors were used to represent am and cool colors represented pm. The collages were all arranged in a film strip/timeline format banner and students got to tell their stories to the whole class.
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| 2nd grade time story banner |
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| 3rd grade probability cross-stitch |
3rd graders were focused on learning probability. Students made a color die with either a 2/2/2, 3/2/1, or 4/1/1 color combination. The rolled their die 100 times and kept a running tally of each color rolled. The results were graphed onto gingham and cross-stitch x's were stitched to mark each tally. Some were more like bar graphs, and others were a little more inventive with the placement of colors
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| checkerboard distribution of tally mark colors |
4th graders were focused on calculating volume of geometric solids. We measured and cut plastic canvas to construct a needlepoint cube. Student created an initial stripe pattern to mark one centimeter width on their cube, and used different colors, patterns, and stitches on each side.
The sides were stitched together and students measured and calculated the volume of their own cube, and the aggregate volume of the entire class's cubes.
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| calculating volume |
Students arranged their cubes in various sculptural formations and recalculated volume of the resulting forms as well. We really stretched their multiplication practice with decimal points due to the irregularly cut canvas squares!
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| 4th grade cube combos |
5th grade focused on surface area of geometric solids. We selected a cylinder as the major form we would make. Student designed 2 inch square designs with their initials and shapes, then printed vertical and horizontal stripes on fabric rectangles to mark out the base and height of their cylinder.
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| printmaking station |
For the top and bottom circles, students designed radial symmetry patterns to mark out radius/diameter needed for calculating area of a circle.
Their pieces were sewn together, and students stuffed and handsewed the closures. Additionally, their cylinder/pillows were signed by every student in the class to serve as a souvenir for this graduating class.
The pilot projects were short and sweet and gave an initial opportunity for artist and teachers to get used to each other and get their feet wet in arts integration.
