Make Your Own Self-LeWitt
Making a Final Wall Drawing
Make Your Own Self-LeWitt
Next , students are asked to take on the role of the artist and create a set of instructions for a piece of artwork , and , at the same time , make the finished drawing to be used as a “ key .” Students are often asked to use specific mathematical vocabulary in their instructions , but are encouraged to be creative in designing their own artwork . When students are finished , they swap their instructions with a partner to attempt to reproduce the original drawing . If needed , they are allowed to confer with the original artist and then edit the original instructions .
Finished drawings are displayed side-by-side and students discuss the similarities and differences between the two drawings , and the challenges of being the artist versus the draftsman . Students are often surprised to see how someone else interprets their instructions and discussions frequently center on what is a correct interpretation and how the instructions could be modified to be more precise . This clarifies and reinforces their understanding of the mathematical concepts and strengthens foundational knowledge .
Making a Final Wall Drawing
As a culminating activity , I often create a wall sized mural , similar to the large scale Sol LeWitt wall drawings . Of course , the instructions are always included , posted on the wall nearby for all to read .
Fifth grade students in Manchester , CT are shown below working on a wall mural they designed as part of their exploration of the art of Sol LeWitt . Students wrote the instructions ; an excerpt is shown below .
In the top left square , draw a NOT straight horizontal line to divide the square in half . Color the top half red and the bottom half green .
In the top right square , draw a diagonal line starting at the top left and ending at the bottom right . Color the top right triangle yellow . Divide the bottom triangle in half with a line perpendicular to the diagonal . Color the bottom triangle blue .
Middle School students in New Haven , CT designed this wall mural as part of their Algebra class . The instructions for this are all algebraic equations and systems of inequalities ; an excerpt is shown below .
STEAMed Magazine
13
January 2016 Edition