Grab Your Paint--It's Math Time

So, when I prep my math lessons, painting isn't my first thought. Or my last thought. Even as an artist, I still approach math in a conventional way that's restricted to textbooks and a few counting cubes. While this approach is essential to teaching math at its core, why not explore unique ways to practice math? I'm brainstorming projects to include in my elementary lessons this fall, join me! Feel free to post more artistic math project ideas in the comments. Include your grade/age level with each idea. My focus is visual arts-- as reflected in each project idea-- but you're welcome to include music and performance art ideas in the comments.

Early Learning (Pre-k/Kindergarten)
My kids are ages seven, six, four, and two. Needless to say, I've been at this early learning stage for a few fun years. Teaching math at this stage is playful discovery-- fun, FUN, FUN!!! Here's a few projects to get you started. 3-4 year olds should learn: 

• Number Recognition
• Shape recognition
• Counting to five

Project Ideas:

God Made Handprint:  
Supplies needed: Construction paper, tempura paint, marker, and one little hand
Ask your child Who made his hand. Have your child dip a hand in a bright colored tempura paint and stamp it on a construction paper page. Wipe his hand, then have him dip a finger in a different color of his choice.  Counting aloud, he stamps a dot over each finger on the hand print. Write the number five beneath the hand.  On a separate page, do another hand print and have him mark four fingers. Then, another with three. Then two. Then one.  Let each page dry and staple it together-- you have a great artistic counting review book to save!

God Made Footprint: 
Supplies needed: Construction paper, tempura paint, marker, and one little foot
Same as the above project, only this time you're counting toes.

Potato Stamp Pattern:
Supplies needed: Potatoes, knife, permanent marker, tempura paint, construction paper
Make Potato Stamps, two or three different shapes. (Watch how to make a potato stamp here). Have child stamp construction paper alternating shapes in order you choose. Ask them which stamp comes next. Do a few rows of this, then let them go at it and make a stamp painting filling the entire page. Talk about how God is a God of order and he's organized nature using various patterns. Let dry and you have a pattern painting masterpiece.

Elementary Projects (1st- 6th grades) 
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(In process- check back soon!!)

(Additional Project Ideas)
How To Use Creative Art Projects To Make Your Student Love Math

Fun Middle School Math Projects

Elementary Math Activities

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