Introduction

It's testing time here and that means that we have no access to technology, our schedule is a mess, and the students are a little squirrely.  I love to take these time and have all of my classes do something cross-curricular.  This worked out as an excellent time for this project because I was out for professional development and technology assists on multiple days.  I, also, needed to come up with something for my students to do while I was proctoring our state test. 

For this unit we did a little bit of circuitry, a little computer science, lots of fraction refreshers, and topped it off with some Modern art.  I got a bonus of addressing a few, non Standard related items, such as, measurement and neatness.

Day 1/Day 2

We started the project with SnapKits.

I was at district meetings and setting up for testing two days in a row.  This is a great activity for a substitute teacher.  The kits have very detailed instruction manuals.  The students stay engaged and on task which really decreases any behavior issues the substitute teacher might have.   I assigned students groups and a set number of activities in advance to ensure that the activity had focus. 

This is a fun way to integrate Science concepts into any class.

Day 3/4/5

Back in class I introduced students to the work of Piet Mondrian.

We started the conversation with thing this was like that they just did...SnapKits.  There are definitely some visual connection.  The class transitioned to a conversation on what they thought this was a painting of.  The responses are always interesting.

I used links from the Tate and MoMa to round out my planning and presentation.

http://www.tate.org.uk/kids/explore/who-is/who-piet-mondrian

https://www.moma.org/collection/works/78682

I began instructions letting students know that we were going to focus on some skills that we didn't always have time to address.  The core focus of this activity is measurement and fractions.

Students created a grid that covered their paper.  The goal was to ensure that all lines were an equal distance apart and parallel with the edges of their paper.

Students got to break out the paint after the finished their grids.

To finish the work up we used Sharpie to add emphasis.

Finally, each student created a card that identifies the fraction of each color used in the artwork.  This is a pretty popular activity and you can find tons of lessons online.

This wrapped up the Visual Art component of this lesson.

Day 6/7

My students are off to a series of other teachers as I proctor for state testing.  We are currently enjoying the only stop of an international tour of Degas' work.  I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about his work and continue with some additional fraction practice.  I really wanted to make sure that my students were doing something engaging, rather then sitting in study hall, while I was proctoring.

I always like to leave very detailed sub plans.

SUB PLAN

Day 1

I had teachers start out with a warmup discussing Polykleitos and encouraging students to find a connection between dance, visual art, and mathematics.

Math Warmup

Instructors read an article highlighting the current Degas exhibit at the Denver Art Museum.

New Exhibition Tell the Story of Degas

Student received a fraction worksheet.  The result of correct answers is a set of ballet slippers.  This coloring sheet was a bear to make.  Excel really doesn't want you writing fractions that aren't properly reduced.

Ballet Slipper Fraction Coloring Sheet

While students work, the teacher covering my class read an article connecting dance and physics.

The Physicist Who Figured Out Ballet

I included a few coloring sheets for students to complete if they finished early.

Day 2

For day 2, I had students do a little story telling.

Students started with a warmup asking them to think about what it would be like to be a ballerina.

Writing Warmup

Students look at  Edgar Degas' Study in the Nude of Little Dancer Aged Fourteen as the write a story and listen to their teacher read.

The True Story of the Little Ballerina

Lots of coloring, pretty simple, easy activities for students but the work continues to help them make connections.  I think it can be valuable for our students to keep things low-key during testing.  These activities weren't academically strenuous but the students enjoyed them and I got a little more content covered.

Final Assessment

Now, on to making the connections.  My objective for this lesson was, "I will make connections between circuitry, Piet Mondrain, and fractions."

Students are all back in my classroom and testing is finished.  We've done lots of activities over the last few weeks and I want to tie the experiences together.  I created a worksheet, a dreaded worksheet, that helps students think through that process before completing a written reflection.

You can see a copy of the worksheet HERE.

We don't spend a lot of time in my classes away from hands on activities but unit assessments tend to come in the form of a written reflection.  I want students to progress beyond making a painting to reflection of thought processes and increasing their ability to make connections across content.

I have included a few student responses to demonstrate my intended outcome.  I included a wide range of quality to include the students that choose not to complete the assignment. 

Student Examples