This summer we are hosting a small “Math Art” class for a few of our friends.  Each week we will create a math-themed art project (or an art-themed math project!).

Ways to Make “10”

For Week 1 we created a mixed media board that illustrated a Number Bond.  Each student picked a Number, then cut numbers out of newspaper and magazines to show at least 4 “ways to make” their chosen Number.   The ages of these kids were from 7 to 11 years old.

Materials

• cardboard
• various paintbrushes
• Mod Podge
• papers to create a background (scrapbook paper, newspaper, old worksheets)
• acrylic paint
• small container to mix paint with water
• wax paper
• old magazines and newspapers
• scissors
• pencils

Directions

1. Cut pieces of cardboard from old boxes.
2. Use a paintbrush & Mod Podge to paste on a background.  We used old math worksheets & tests. Tear paper to fit. (If you haven’t used Mod Podge before, just paint the cardboard with a thin coat, place your piece of decorative paper, then paint another thin coat on top.  Continue layering.)
3. Let dry, about 15 minutes if the Mod Podge is a thin coat.  Trim edges.
4. Paint the background with watered down acrylic paint.  If the paint is too thick to see the background, wipe some off with a towel.
5. Let dry.
6. Have each student choose a Number.  On a piece of paper, have them list at least 4 “ways to make” that Number.  Provide magazines, newspapers, and scissors to hunt for numbers.  (The weekly ads are a great source!)  They can keep track of the numbers they have found by laying them on the paper where they wrote their answers.
7. When the background paint is dry, use a pencil to sketch the body of a dragonfly.
8. Paint the dragonfly body with acrylic paint (NOT watered down!).  I place a dab of red, yellow, blue, and white paint on a piece of wax paper for each child, and let them mix colors as they wish.
9. Let dry.
10. Have each student look through magazines to find a pretty pattern for wings.  Cut wings and set aside.
11. Once the paint is mostly dry, use Mod Podge to attach the numbers and wings.
12. After all paint is completely dry, you can Mod Podge over the entire piece as a finish coat.