Math Art for 3rd graders

Math Art. Not my usual blog topic! But I wanted to share a project I did in Mindy Crum's 3rd grade class. I volunteer once a week to help the kids with reading or math. Sadly, they don't have much time for art. So, I created a Math Art project!

1) Step one. State a multiplication problem, for example 4 times 4. Using number stencils and crayons, have the kids color in four 4's and then in the same color, the answer (ah, that would be, hold on, 16 :-). Have them select a different color crayon for each problem. Cover the page with math prolems, overlapping the numbers.
2) Step two. Color the whole page with watercolor (crayon resists) and change colors as you paint.

3) Step three. Once the watercolor is dry, they could: 1) cut into strips and fold and build and glue onto a piece of colored construction paper (above). 2) or cut into strips and weave them together (under/over/under) 3) make a journal cover 4) Make a box by measuring the pattern out on the back, and folding and assembling...
  
The kids really enjoyed it!