Shapes and Patterns - 2nd

Objectives:

• Students can see that geometric shapes have lines, angles, points, and can overlap to create new shapes.
• Students will create a work of art that uses overlapping geometric shapes and patterns to show math in art.

Standards:

Tennessee Art Standards:

2.1  Identify, understand, and apply the elements of art.

6.2  Identify connections between visual arts and mathematics.

Math Standards:

Common Core 2.G - Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces.5 Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes. 

We have been learning about shapes for a while now. I think shapes lead naturally into patterns, as you know, one of the elements of Art. To integrate the lesson into the math curriculum, we discuss the role of shapes in math and art. Then, I introduce the term pattern.

pattern - something that repeats over and over again

Even though Common Core standards have changed the basic outline of 2nd grade math requirements, I like to discuss mathematical patterns with the kids. For instance, we will talk about ABA patterns, as well as ABBA (not the disco sensation!), ABC, AABB, so on.... you get the idea.

After this, we find patterns in our every day world. This can include patterns on clothing, in the room, or seen in nature. In art, I like to stress that a pattern does NOT have to be in a straight line, and does NOT have to be the same color, size, orientation. For example, a pattern can be made up of something as simple as triangles. As long as the shape is repeating, the triangles can be different colors, sizes, and directions.

To start on our project, I have students make a list of geometric shapes, which I write on the board. Students then draw geometric shapes on their papers, making sure to overlap the shapes. We then outline the shapes with Sharpee, to ensure nice clean lines. Students must identify all shapes on their paper, including the newly created shapes that resulted from the overlapping. Each shape must be filled with a different pattern. I really tried to encourage the kids to come up with the coolest and funniest patterns that they could think of. In the examples below you will be able to see some cool patterns. After finishing the patterns, students were instructed to cut out the shape cluster, and glue it on a piece of black paper.

For the most part, the majority of the students understood the project and were able to complete the assignment without a lot teacher intervention. Some students needed scaffolding with identifying new spaces that were created when the geometric shapes overlapped. Still, I was pleased with how well the kids seemed to grasp the subject matter and retain the information. Hope someone can use this project! 

Ice Cream and Pumpkin Pattern

Nice and bright!

Blue ice cream in a green cone.

This kid likes video games. Can you tell?

Eggs and bacon pattern.

The end!