Feb. 1, 2012 - "One Meter Designs"

Next in our Math Art program at our Vance Chapman site, our members worked on "One Meter Designs". Before experiencing the art portion of the activity, they discussed as a group what a meter measurement could be used for. One of the examples the members came up with was measuring distance.

The group was curious to see how many meters it would take to measure from our Club Room to the school gymnasium. Each member gave an estimate and then we set out to see how close they were with their guesses. With each member holding their own one meter piece of string, and connecting one to the other, we began our journey. By working together we were able to determine that the distance was approximately 87.5 meters!  This was a great visualization exercise for our members and it especially helped them practice teamwork and cooperation.

For the art portion of the activity members used their strings to create a One Meter Design on paper. They all came up with very interesting designs and had fun decorating them!

Symmetry Pop Up Cards - Kingsway Park program site:

According to the Ontario Math Curriculum: “Spatial sense is necessary for understanding and appreciating the many geometric aspects of our world.  Insights and intuitions about the characteristics of two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures, the interrelationships of shapes, and the effects of changes to shapes are important aspects of spatial sense.  Students develop their spatial sense by visualizing, drawing, and comparing shapes and figures in various positions”  Grade 4 overall expectation: construct three-dimensional figures, using two-dimensional shapes.

This math art activity was a timely activity that we were able to also use it as an act of kindness for Valentine ’s Day.  Each of our members made two pop up cards based on the theme of Valentine’s Day and we divided them into two envelopes and donated them to two local senior’s homes in Thunder Bay (Pinewood Court and Grandview)

Terrific Tessellations - both sites

Members of the Kids Get Active Club at both of our after school sites worked on Terrific Tessellations for the Math Art Program. The students learned about repeating patterns and designed their own. The kids came up with some interesting designs using a variety of shapes and colours to help their work stand out. Over the March break our Vance Chapman program leader took the tessellation designs and made them into door hangers for the kids to take home.

“Through activities and investigations, students examine how patterns change, in order to develop an understanding of variable as changing quantities.  In grade 6 students need to identify geometric pattern, through investigation using concrete materials or drawings” To create a tessellation members were given a piece of paper that they first drew a design onto and had it checked to make sure it wasn’t too difficult to replicate.    Once members had filled in their paper with tracings, they could add elements to make their shapes represent what they believed it looked like (faces, animals, buildings) and then coloured them to create a pattern.

Graph a Wall Hanging - Vance Chapman site

For our next project, members moved on to Graph a Wall Hanging. They took an 8x10 graph and designed a pattern that they would use to create a 3D wall hanging ornament made from sticks and beads. It took a lot of work and patience to string all the beads onto the strings but the end result was worth it. The kids learned how to follow a graph and make a 3D design.

Origami: - Kingsway site

Members used the art of paper folding to complete their fifth activity in our Math Art program.  Members followed complex designs to complete two different Easter designs that will be turned into a display for our math art show!

Number Spirals at Vance Chapman was our next Math Art activity. The members learned about number sequencing and patterning. Once the members were able to see that number sequencing was similar to multiplication, they were able to come up with patterns on their own. In order for the members to see their patterns, we created our very own number spiral. The wooden circle had nails and numbers so that each member could use yarn to visually represent their pattern. The final result was fantastic and the kids were really impressed with their work.