Teacher
Notes
[String
Art Project] [String Art Project Evaluation] [String Art Teacher Notes]
This project can be used
as effectively at the beginning of the year when first introducing
points, lines, segments, angles, and planes as at the end of the year
during the unit on circles when you are studying tangents. This project
is highly motivational. If you have some examples for your class to
see, it is even more motivational when they can really see the layers
and the effect the colors and blank spaces have on a design. Usually
after the first year, there will be some students who will allow you
to keep their work. I have them hung on the wall for all to enjoy.
To
introduce the project, draw an angle and have students measure equal distances
with a compass along the sides of the angle from the vertex. Then, connect
the points with a straightedge to form a curve.
Next, have students draw several
circles and along the circle, mark the distance of the radii, getting
6 points on the circle. Bisect the distance between two points and measure
that distance and continue marking off that distance to create 12 points
that are placed equally apart on the circle. On one circle, connect every
other point with a straight edge (see illustration below). On another,
connect every third point and then on another circle, every fourth point.
Look at the difference that the patterns make. Then finally, using colored
pencils, make each pattern - each a different color on one circle.
There are several good resources to have on hand for this project. 
Books:
Creative Constructions
- Grades 5 and Up (1994), Dale Seymour and Reuben Schadler,
Ideal School Supply Company. (ISBN # 1-56451-080-8)
Line Designs -
Grades 5 and Up (1994),
Dale Seymour, Linda Silvey, and Joyce Snider, Dale Seymour Publications.
How to Enrich Geometry
Using String Designs (1986), Victoria Pohl, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
(NCTM), (ISBN 0-87353-227-9)
Geometric Design (1988), Dale Seymour, Dale Seymour Publications (ISBN# 0-86651-424-4)
Websites:
String
Art - An Adventure in Line Designs
http://teachersnetwork.org/dcs/math/stringart/
Spatial
Sense - Going Around in Circles
http://nde4.nde.state.ne.us/NMSI/mathvantage/spatsense/lesson.html
Curve
Stitching
http://montessoriworld.org/Handwork/stitch/stitch1.html
Curved
Stitching Based on Circles
http://montessoriworld.org/Handwork/stitch/stitch2.html
Symmetry All Around You
http://teachersnetwork.org/dcs/math/symmetry/
String Art - An Adventure
in Line Designs
http://otis.district87.org/staff/powelln/stringart/
Spatial Sense - Going
Around in Circles
http://nde4.nde.state.ne.us/NMSI/mathvantage/spatsense/lesson.html
[String
Art Project] [String Art Project Evaluation] [String Art Teacher Notes]
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