When the band kids are in band, the non-band kids need something to do. Josh and I alternate days with them, teaching some sort of enrichment class.
Last year, I taught Music History and Josh taught Art History all year. It was fun, but it was too long on one subject. One semester would have been just right. This year, we’ve decided to change subjects. He’s been doing money stuff, first stock market, then budgeting for the adult world (rent, bills, groceries, etc). I did codes and ciphers, and have switched to Math and Art.
My first subject was fractals. My first lesson was a little dry, and a little confusing. When I showed them three different ways to draw fractals, nobody was very successful. For my second lesson, I got ideas from THIS website. They call them “Fractivities”! Hahah! Awesome!
I showed them how Paschal’s Triangle can be used to draw a Sierpinski Triangle, then how to do a papercutting model of a Sierpinski Triangle. They were quite successful with the Paschal’s Triangle, but not so successful with the paper cutting.
The thing is, papercutting takes patience and precision. Not many of the kids took the time and care required. I’m sorry they couldn’t quite get it. The end results are striking. Here are mine:
Where is that “Wow!” emoji when you want one? Beautiful juncture of math and art. (Reminds me of something Melody might have assigned…)
Yea, I can’t picture middle schoolers with sharp enough scissors and patience enough to cut all (…put down three…carry the 2…) 115 (!?) raised pieces per Triangle. (Insert second “Wow!” emoji here.)
[I can’t even picture me with the patience to do that…and I use embroidery scissors all the time.]
I agree with Carol! Those are gorgeous! At first I thought it was some kind of optical illusion. I think that not being able to do it perfectly the first time is absolutely ok – they will now know that this is possible, and many of your students are going to have this stuck in their head for the rest of their lives. You’re changing some brains, sir.
The one on the left is so dang intricate!