This article looks at students doing mathematics through the lens of (artistic) performance. (Contains 10 figures.)

This article describes a middle school introductory art lesson that encourages experimentation as an essential part of the creative process. In this lesson, students experiment with different types of media and tools to create an abstract piece that focuses on the most basic element of art--line. Students focus on line quality, focal points,…

This article offers some ideas about creating mathematical art based on number patterns. It includes a process for students that integrates number and geometry and results in attractive and useful patterned squares. Students may pursue the activity with paper and pencil or they may use computer software like The Geometer's Sketchpad to achieve…

Linda Kieling, an art teacher at Rosemont Ridge Middle school in West Linn, Oregon, describes an altered book art project she introduced to her students. Alteration of books is a form of recycling that started in the eleventh century when Italian monks recycled old manuscripts written on vellum by scraping off the ink and adding new text and…

This article describes the instructional process of helping students visualize irrational numbers. Students learn to create a spiral, called "the wheel of Theodorus," which demonstrates irrational and rational lengths. Examples of student work help the reader appreciate the delightful possibilities of this project. (Contains 4 figures.)

"C[squared] = Creative Coordinates" is an engaging group of tasks that fosters the integration of mathematics and art to create meaningful understanding. The project lets students illustrate of find an image, then plot points to map their design on a grid. The project usually takes about a week to complete. When it is finished, students who are…

This article describes one way to introduce fraction, decimal, and percent equivalents by linking student-created Op Art with examples of twentieth-century abstract painting. (Contains 7 figures.)

Rainforest reptiles and amphibians are a vibrantly colored, multimedia art experience. To complete the entire project one may need to dedicate many class periods to production, yet in each aspect of the project a new and important skill, concept, or element is being taught or reinforced. This project incorporates the study of warm and cool color…

Preparation is vital to the success of any journey, especially when one is dealing with a faraway land and 700 sixth graders. Creating a virtual journey to Africa, the author describes an art lesson plan for sixth graders focusing on life on the Serengeti, by having students create tissue paper collages through a three-stage project. (Contains 1…

Masks, which are used in burial, ceremonies, initiation rites, for warding off evil spirits, and character development in theater, are great materials to study the history and culture of different nations around the world. This author relates that she always begins her art lessons with discussion of the historical and cultural uses of masks. She…

Kids always seem to like Surrealism and Op Art. This is a fun project that is popular with students. With Op Art patience and attention to details are required while Surrealistic collage needs strong composition skills for the image placement. Often, many images must be left out to create a clean design. Artistic decisions must be based on the art…

This article demonstrates a totem project for the author's eight-grade students. Research on totems not only deepened the author's understanding of their meaning and value within the Native American culture of the Pacific Northwest, but also made her curious about contemporary totem forms. While searching online, she came across the work of two…

"Art and Social Justice Education" offers inspiration and tools for educators to craft critical, meaningful, and transformative arts education curriculum and arts integration projects. The images, descriptive texts, essays, and resources are grounded within a clear social justice framework and linked to ideas about culture as commons. Essays and a…

In this article, the author describes how her art class students were able to create, in just four class periods, clay relief plaques depicting nature. A lesson on texture speeds up the completion of such a project. Seeing that clay is a natural material with its own unique texture, it seemed fitting that the final product should depict a variety…

External assessments are pervasive in education, particularly with the testing environment created by the "No Child Left Behind" reform initiative. To solidify its position as a core subject within education, art needs to be accountable to its standards at both national and state levels. Art can be assessed for accountability purposes…