Geometry in the World of Art

This unit connects geometry with art. Students explore geometric shapes and concepts using a virtual geoboard. Students use the Internet to research the Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky. They define geometric shapes and lines within his works and design their own piece of art using Kandinsky’s techniques and their knowledge of geometry.

Math Content

Students will:

• Describe location and movement using common language and geometric vocabulary
• Build and draw geometric objects
• Create and describe mental images of objects, patterns, and paths
• Recognize geometric ideas and relationships and apply them to other disciplines and to problems that arise in the classroom or in everyday life

Individual Lessons

Lesson 1 - Working with Shapes

Students review basic geometric terms related to triangles. They explore these terms and other geometric concepts by modeling them on the geoboard.

Lesson 2 - More Work with Shapes

Students continue to explore geometric concepts by modeling on the geoboard. Communication is the Process Standard emphasized in this lesson.

Lesson 3 - Finding Lines of Symmetry

Students identify lines of symmetry and congruent figures. They explore these concepts with paper cutting and modeling on the geoboard.

Lesson 4 - Who Was Wassily Kandinsky?

This lesson provides students with an exploration of the geometric figures Wassily Kandinsky used in his art. Students participate in a scavenger hunt to become familiar with Kandinsky’s works and the geometric figures used in his paintings.

Lesson 5 - Seeing Geometry in Art

Students use paintings studied in the previous lesson to connect their knowledge of geometric shapes and terms with Kandinsky’s use of geometric figures.

Lesson 6 - Mirroring Kandinsky

This lesson allows students to apply what they have learned in previous lessons by designing their own art. Students use Kandinsky’s style of art and their own creativity to make paintings that reflect their understanding of geometry.