Photo Credit: http://gregtangmath.com
This week I decided to do a book review! I have just purchased an amazing book by Greg Tang called MATH-terpieces. I bought this book originally because of the super clever title, also because how of the interesting concept of bringing artwork together with math. When I received this book in the mail I was so excited, and couldn't wait to sift through the pages. This book is written for 5-10 year olds, but the math at times challenged me! In this post I will give you a few quick ideas on how to use this book in the classroom with different age groups, but first I want to describe the book to you and talk a little about Greg Tang's arts integrated goals when writing this book.
In the author’s note that begins the book, we hear from Greg Tang about his goal in writing this book, and why he has combined art history with math. He states two reasons, one being, “to create visually interesting problems, that are engaging and clear.” The second is “to create a learning environment that stimulates both analytical and creative thinking”. He discusses how being good at math requires not just the information, but also how to apply the information with innovation. He says, “Developing well-rounded kids is my ultimate goal”. When I first read this book I skipped over this author's note, and later I realized that was not the best idea. When I read it, I really began to appreciate each page Tang put together even more than I already had. I agree whole-heartedly with his goals, and how he works to make students well rounded. In addition to what Greg Tang wrote about, I also discuss how for some students, learning through art is the best or only way they can succeed. For these students, we need books like MATH-terpieces to help them discover their abilities and ways of learning. I would definitely recommend this book to teachers and parents. Explore this book with your children and students (after you read the authors note of course:) ) and be inspired to continue integrated arts into your math lessons.
As a teacher or parent, this book is great to sit down with your child or students and work through each fun poem. For teachers, I would recommend maybe getting a "jumbo" version of the book so you could read and enjoy this as a whole class. The students could volunteer different options on how to form combinations of numbers as well as look at each painting together. This idea is best for younger students. (continue to read and there is a lesson for older students) I would focus on the teacher or parent researching with the children about the art, rather than them doing it themselves. In addition, working with the children and encouraging them to add these non-abstract items such as peaches or ballet slippers, can help them learn math topics earlier than they normally would. Soon they will be able to connect the abstract objects with real numbers and be able to perform addition that is more complex.
For older students, a fun idea to integrate the arts even further is to give groups or each student (depending on amount) a set of pages in the book. To do this teachers should try to make color photocopies of the pages to give out to the students, (this can be expensive so laminate them once and use them for the years to come!). The color is important because you want the students to be able to see all aspects of the art. For instance, one group could get this double page spread:
In the author’s note that begins the book, we hear from Greg Tang about his goal in writing this book, and why he has combined art history with math. He states two reasons, one being, “to create visually interesting problems, that are engaging and clear.” The second is “to create a learning environment that stimulates both analytical and creative thinking”. He discusses how being good at math requires not just the information, but also how to apply the information with innovation. He says, “Developing well-rounded kids is my ultimate goal”. When I first read this book I skipped over this author's note, and later I realized that was not the best idea. When I read it, I really began to appreciate each page Tang put together even more than I already had. I agree whole-heartedly with his goals, and how he works to make students well rounded. In addition to what Greg Tang wrote about, I also discuss how for some students, learning through art is the best or only way they can succeed. For these students, we need books like MATH-terpieces to help them discover their abilities and ways of learning. I would definitely recommend this book to teachers and parents. Explore this book with your children and students (after you read the authors note of course:) ) and be inspired to continue integrated arts into your math lessons.
As a teacher or parent, this book is great to sit down with your child or students and work through each fun poem. For teachers, I would recommend maybe getting a "jumbo" version of the book so you could read and enjoy this as a whole class. The students could volunteer different options on how to form combinations of numbers as well as look at each painting together. This idea is best for younger students. (continue to read and there is a lesson for older students) I would focus on the teacher or parent researching with the children about the art, rather than them doing it themselves. In addition, working with the children and encouraging them to add these non-abstract items such as peaches or ballet slippers, can help them learn math topics earlier than they normally would. Soon they will be able to connect the abstract objects with real numbers and be able to perform addition that is more complex.
For older students, a fun idea to integrate the arts even further is to give groups or each student (depending on amount) a set of pages in the book. To do this teachers should try to make color photocopies of the pages to give out to the students, (this can be expensive so laminate them once and use them for the years to come!). The color is important because you want the students to be able to see all aspects of the art. For instance, one group could get this double page spread:
This is page 10 in Greg Tang's book
MATH-terpieces!
(Photo Credit: Me :) )
MATH-terpieces!
(Photo Credit: Me :) )
They would have to read and do research regarding their page. First, they would read the poem with their group (could have them pick out the rhyming words). Then they must uses computers to research the artist that is give and find other works come up with some interesting facts about the artist. They could look up the art era that is give on the second page, in this case "Post impressionism". They would search for other artists and artwork from this era and what made up this era. Then they would work as a group on the math portion trying to come up with all different combinations, or in this case 5 ways and talk about the different combinations of numbers. The lesson I just briefly described may work better for students who are a little older. The book as I said earlier is for ages 5-10 so this lesson may be for students 8-10.
Here is a work sheet that could guide the students through their page:
Here is a work sheet that could guide the students through their page:
math-terpieces_worksheet.docx |
After everything is done, you could have the students present their "page" as you read the book so everyone can learn about the math as well as the art from their fellow students! Such a fun way to integrate art into the lesson.
*If you have time, the students could even make art in the style of the page they received. So for example if they receive the "Drip Dry" which is Jackson Pollock art, they could (hopefully not to messily) make splatter, Abstract Expressionism art. *
This book is a perfect starting point for an arts integrated lesson on math. It is made for it! It is an easy read, but still challenging, and will work your student's brain. They will explore the different ways to look at the combinations of the objects as well as art work. I recommend this book to all of you and hope you will enjoy it!
If you have any more ideas about how to use MATH-terpieces in the classroom, comment below!
Thanks for reading,
Alexa
*If you have time, the students could even make art in the style of the page they received. So for example if they receive the "Drip Dry" which is Jackson Pollock art, they could (hopefully not to messily) make splatter, Abstract Expressionism art. *
This book is a perfect starting point for an arts integrated lesson on math. It is made for it! It is an easy read, but still challenging, and will work your student's brain. They will explore the different ways to look at the combinations of the objects as well as art work. I recommend this book to all of you and hope you will enjoy it!
If you have any more ideas about how to use MATH-terpieces in the classroom, comment below!
Thanks for reading,
Alexa