Math + Art = Amazingness

 

What Kind of Math are We Talking?

Number Sense, does that make sense? Let me explain! 

                            Number sense is when our brains quickly make 

assumptions on numbers based off of what we see. We also use 

knowledge that has been previously taught to us.  

Why is this important to students math development? 

When students are faced with more difficult math problems 

they are able to return to knowledge that they have previously 

obtained to help them solve the problem they're working on. 

Example: Student working through higher level addition problem 

What is the sum of 72+38 

I know that 70+ 30 is 100 because 7+3 is 10 

now we have to add the 2 and the 8. I know  2+8= 10 

So the answer must be 110.

This is an example of a student having number sense and being 

able to work through this higher level addition problem. 

👏👏👏👏

                    Okay, Where's the Art? 

So glad you asked, but slow down, we have one 

more math concept to talk about! 

Dot Cards

Dot cards are cards with different amounts of 

dots on them, showing groups of dots so children 

can understand the concept of grouping and knowing 

amounts without having to count each number. 

See how each card has a different amount of dots 

on them to symbolize the number it's trying to 

show? Now look at these next set of cards. 

How did you read the first group of of cards? 

How many dots are there? Did you see one group of 4 on 

the first one, and then 3 rows of 3 on the second one,

and then added it in your head to make 13. 

It's okay to see it different ways, but it's so important 

that students start grouping numbers like that at a young age

so that they can start gaining skills in number sense, what we 

discussed earlier. 

You can make cards like this for your own students to get 

into groups and practice with! 

You can even make it a board game like these students

 did, and that's our Segway into how to include art into 

this type of math! 

Art Project Ideas Using Number Sense 

Concepts and Dot Cards

Idea #1: 

Make your students dot cards, but don't color 

the dots in making them solid. Leave them hollow. 

Once students finish flashing the cards to each other, 

and saying the number of dots aloud (did I mention practice

and repetition are a must with these cards!), have the students 

design the cards however they like and whatever they see in the 

card. A lot like Math, being able to see different methods 

that are correct, artist see a lot of different potentials while 

creating art. 

This is an example of what I mean. Do this with 

different amounts of dots on different cards. 

This is something you would do after you're finished with 

your math lesson for a cool down for your students, this could even 

be an exit ticket. 

Idea #2: 

Have students draw representation of dot cards

for 3 different numbers. 

For example a student picks numbers 2, 6, and 9.

The must design their own dot card drawing objects 

that group together to make their selected number. 

Here is an example of that students work. 

For the number 2

For the number 6 

For the number 9 

As you can see the student represented 2 by drawing

a pair of pairs

Number 6 by drawing 6 chicks in groups of 3

Number 9 by drawing 9 dancing ladies 

in 2 groups of 4 and a single lady in the middle 

Let's Wrap Things Up: 

It is my hopes that this blog has helped explained 

the concepts and importance of number sense 

and dot cards. Number sense is a key building block 

in the world of math, and dot cards are a great way to 

help students strengthen that skill.