Eighth grade critical thinking project integrating math and art.

Supplies:

• white drawing paper (12x18)
• markers, crayons, colored pencils
• ruler
• protractor
• compass

Process:

This project is used to:

• review geometric terms and properties,
• to practice line and angle measurement,
• to complete geometric constructions using compass and straight edge,
• and to illustrate the role of mathematics in art.

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Students first practice drawing line segments and dividing them into equal intervals. Angles are drawn and categorized by size.

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These two concepts are combined to complete basic line designs-optical illusions in which curved lines appear although only straight lines have been drawn.

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Students then combine angles and use these adjacent and vertical angles to create a more complex design.

Finally, students construct regular polygons and create line designs by rotating the polygons. The inscribed angles of regular polygons are also used to create line design patterns.

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After completing this study of angles, line segments, and polygons, students create an original line design drawing. Each drawing must contain a minimum of eight curved lines and must be an original creation.

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