Math with art takes two of my favorite things and combines them together into lovely math art projects! The math art activities we are doing today are great for kids of all ages and all grades and work well at home or in the classroom because it uses simple art supplies, can be done with a group (even at different grade levels) and results in beautiful, colorful, creative art made by kids.
Let’s Make Art with Math!
We love all art & craft activities for kids, but especially those that mix learning with art. In this shape art project inspired by the artist, Paul Klee, kids innately learn geometry, fractions and measurements while creating beautiful art.
Related: Fun games with math, Picasso-Inspired Homemade Tree Ornaments Art Project, & Related: 50+ Easy String Art Projects Kids Can Make, & Fun Brush Painting Art Project
Kids can mix colors and shapes in a way that expresses their artistic flair while absorbing math concepts.
Math Art Project for Kids of All Ages
This art math activity was done with a group of kids ranging in age from 3 years old to 3rd graders. It was fun being able to do a learning activity together, that multiple ages can learn from at the same time. I found it to be the perfect math art project for kids of all ages and levels in a group setting.
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Shapes Inspired by Artist Paul Klee
We were inspired to create our project by the Castle and Sun work of Paul Klee:
More About Paul Klee, Artist
Paul Klee was a Swiss-born German artist. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism…His works reflect his dry humor and his sometimes childlike perspective, his personal moods and beliefs, and his musicality.
–Tate
Art Supplies Needed for This Math Art Project
- Multiple colors of construction paper to be cut into shapes
- White construction paper to be used as a base of the art project – you can use 8 1/2 x 11 size pages or 12 x 18 size paper for a larger finished project
- Scissors or preschool training scissors
- Glue or glue stick
Prep for Kids Math Art Project
- I cut strips of construction paper that were 1 and a half inches thick.
- I then made squares from those strips (1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″) and rectangles by cutting double-wide squares (1 1/2″ x 3″).
- From some of the squares, we cut them in half to make triangles, mini-rectangles and tiny squares.
Directions for Art Math Project
Step 1
Start by showing the children Klee’s work. Discuss how he fit a variety of shapes into a space to create a castle scene.
Introduce that we will be using the principles of creating larger images from smaller shapes and using a lot of visual space. They will be encouraged to completely fill their page with the shapes!
Give each child their base sheet of white construction paper.
Step 2
Give kids access to the variety of shapes already cut from multiple colors of construction paper to glue onto their white construction paper base.
The rule: No overlapping pieces (or try to not have overlapping) and “fill” all the white.
Older students had to use a variety of shapes, they had to have one or more of each shape in their picture.
Younger kiddos could use just squares or squares and rectangles to fill their sheet.
Practicing Math Through Art
Without even realizing it, your kids are learning basic principles of geometry and how shapes and area interact. Show them how obvious some fractions are when the pieces are all the same shape, but notice how other shapes start appearing in fractions as well.
In the example pictured above:
- The upper left corner green square is 1/12th of the entire page.
- The upper middle red is 1/6th size
- And when you combine the 3 different shapes in the lower row, it is 1/3rd
If you want to add another learning element to the page for your older kids, ask them to explain in fractions how much a row or a particular shape or color takes up in the “space” of the image.
Finished Math Art Project: Beautiful Colorful Art
We have our math lessons hanging proudly on our wall as art…isn’t this just the best?
I am inspired to create more art this way.
Math Art Project for Kids
This super simple art project for kids of any age was inspired by the colorful shapes created in masterpieces by the artist, Paul Klee. Emphasizing the geometry in the basic colorful shapes, kids can do this math art project and create amazing art pieces while learning math skills. This works great as a group math art project even if you have students at different math and art skill levels.
Materials
- Multiple colors of construction paper to be cut into shapes
- White construction paper to be used as a base of the art project
Tools
- Scissors or preschool training scissors
- Glue or glue stick
Instructions
- Prep for the art project ahead of time by cutting the colorful strips of construction paper into strips and then squares and rectangles that are multiples of those shapes: single wide and double wide with some that are cut as fractions of the original strip like 1/2 and 1/4.
- With a stack of colorful shapes, kids will fill in their paper creating a consistent space between the shapes and use the different size shapes for different art forms. The only rule is no overlapping pieces.
- Kids will glue pieces onto white canvas base of construction paper or poster board.
- (Optional) Look at the fractions within the finished math art work and discuss.
More Math Art Resources
I found a great little book with even more Math Art for Kids! It has 40 fun art projects to build amazing math skills.
Some of the projects include making pixel art, explore symmetry art, use equations, counting, addition and multiplication to create Fibonacci and golden rectangle art.
More Math & Art Fun from Kids Activities Blog
- Make math much more enjoyable with these fun math games.
- Just learning how to add? These simple addition activities will help your child succeed.
- Is your child just learning to count? Then they’ll love these kids counting games.
- Put a twist on subtraction with this subtraction color by number printable.
- Check out our kindergarten math games!
- Want more educational activities? Check out these easy stem activities for kids.
- Check out this list of some of our favorite preschool art projects!
- You could use math to determine where the sun is when creating shadow art with kids.
- Here are some of the best frame-worthy art projects for kids.
- Here are 12 more cool math games!
- Learn fractions using food! Math has never been so tasty.
- Take a look at this mesmerizing art made with oil, paint, and soap.
- You’re kid will love this Unicorn Subtraction Color by Number!
- Try out this Unicorn Addition Color by Number!
- Don’t miss this beginner level math game with dominoes and cards!
- We love this egg carton number toss math game!
- For more art ideas, check out this Q-tip post-impressionism idea!
- Grab a helpful printable multiplication chart 1-100 – free PDF!
- These printable telling time worksheets make learning how to tell time fun!
How did your Klee inspired math art project turn out?
Such a great activity. Will be trying it with my kids. Thank you.
Enjoy, Judy! You are so welcome!
I love being able to turn a fun activity like art, into a learning experience as well. Very creative. THANK YOU for sharing with us on the Friday Frenzy link up, and we hope you’ll join us again this week!
April
Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above’s Link Party.
Have a great week.
Debi and Charly
such a great way to learn math. Thanks for linking up at Tell Me About It Tuesday. We hope you hop over and share with us again next week.
How creative! I say what a great way to begin introducing the idea of fractions at a younger age. It’s tactile, colorful and fun. Thanks!
So fun! I have to figure out how to use this with Daisies and Brownies because I think they would love doing something like this.