Tessellate and Shout! 8.G.A.2

by: Christine Godfrey

     

When I think about integrating lessons for math I always think of the arts because every culture has their own style of art and art is basicly just a bunch of geometric shapes stuck together and perhaps softened around the edges.

So given the 8th grade geometry standard

Math Standard
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.A.2: Understand that a two-dimensional figure is congruent to another if the second can be obtained from the first by a sequence of rotations, reflections, and translations; given two congruent figures, describe a sequence that exhibits the congruence between them.

And the art standard

Art Standard
GLE: 1.1.7
Applies, analyzes, and creates repetition/pattern, contrast, variety, balance, movement/rhythm, proportion, emphasis/dominance, and harmony/unity in a work of art.
Visual Arts—Principles of Design: Repetition/Pattern, Contrast,
Emphasis/Dominance, Variety, Balance, Movement/Rhythm, Proportion, Harmony/Unity
• Explores and creates patterns, movement, and rhythm by using the repetition of lines, shapes, and colors.

The math problem I think of is creating a tessellation out of regular polygons like with triangles, squares, hexagons or with a rhombus. Culturally tessellations could be used to teach students about the 20th century art culture delving into the life of M.C Escher who popularized this art in the western hemisphere. Tessellation could also be used to teach students about the Roman Empire and the use and spread of aqueducts.