Magic and Math in Art Class

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How do math and art connect?


What is a tessellation? An arrangement of shapes that fit together without gaps or overlapping.
What shapes tessellate? Squares, hexagons, triangles, and more.
Where do we see tessellations every day? Brick walls, tile floors, honeycombs, mosaics.



These are some of the questions Thunder and Lightning are pondering in art. Small groups worked on a collaborative tessellation using small wooden, pattern tiles. 




Our next step was to create two unique tessellation shapes using the techniques of translation and rotation.


The magic part of this project is when each child discovers that their shape actually tessellates (fits together without gaps). Cries of "Woah!" and "It works!" fill the air. 


After tracing the tessellation design, the students added a color pattern to their drawing.


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