9-Square Quilt Squares

Something that I love about Art is that it is the perfect class to reiterate concepts learned in other subjects for better understanding and recollection. This is because art is A. EVERYWHERE and B. includes aspects of Science, Math, History, Language Arts, and the list goes on...

With our 2-3rd graders learning fractions, it was the perfect opportunity to illustrate the fact that math, like art, is everywhere! 

I started by sharing a story about how when I was little, I hated math. I thought I just wasn't good at it, so I did not like it! I loved drawing, however. The more I drew, and the better I became, the more I found I had to use math (whaaaaaat?!) So, I decided to take a break from drawing-because come on- there was math, and I hate math. With that, I tried my hand at cooking. I baked and experimented and measured.... and tried doubling recipes. As I'm sure you could guess, there came the math. Ew. Time to move on. Finally, I decided to learn to sew. I took up some quilting, and to no surprise there was A LOT of math. With this I realized it was time to come to terms with my rocky relationship with math. Eventually, I learned that math, like art, reading, writing, and sports, is not something you are simply good or bad at-it's something that you have to practice and improve at! 

With this story I showed some quilts I made that included a 9-square quilt pattern, and how different arrangements of shapes created different patterns.

As a class we discussed how to identify a numerator and denominator, and counted the fractions of various colors in sample quilt squares. We also identified the symmetry of quilt squares, and that if you cut the square down the center, it is a reflection on each side. We took 3 squares, and cut them in half. Then, we counted them identifying how even though were now 6 parts or shapes, they make up 3 whole squares. After selecting their colors, the students created their own!

After cutting and gluing their "quilt" squares, our students counted and recorded in their Art folders how much of their squares were each color.

Artist and mathematicians; they are children of many talents.

After putting all the squares together we had a beautiful class quilt!

And suddenly, the classroom felt like home :)