3 Ways to Add Art to Your Math Classroom

Adding art to your math class will not only add color and fun to your classroom, but it will also give students the opportunity to show their creative side. Students engaging in art can also help students with reducing stress and anxiety. Best of all these activities will give your students a chance to remember math concepts in a fun and different way.

Below are three easy ways to implement art into your math classroom.

Fractions, Decimals & Percents Art Grid

Give your students a square grid (10 x 10 works well) to color. Next, have them choose 5-7 different colors to create a design on the grid. After they finish, have them calculate each color's fractional, decimal, and percentage amount on a separate piece of paper. This is a simple and fun way to practice converting fractions, decimals, and percents. Challenge your students by creating larger grid designs.

You can do this math art activity on your own or grab our ready to use Fraction, Decimal, Percent Art Activity that includes options for differentiation.

Click on the image above to grab this fun math art activity!

Graphing Equations Art

This is my favorite way to add art to your classroom walls! This stained glass style technique will give your students a chance to show off their artistic skills all while practicing important graphing topics.

*A blurry picture of the wall outside my classroom (2013!) with graphing art!*

To do this activity with your students, give them a list of linear equations to graph using graph paper. Instruct students to go over their graphed lines using black marker, sharpies work best. Then have them color the spaces in between the lines with different colors or patterns. The result is a beautiful stained glass style of art and looks amazing displayed in your classroom!

Have students glue their completed artwork on black construction to make the finished piece “pop”.

You can implement this graphing art in many ways including:

Give your students 6 up to 12 linear equations to graph depending on what type of challenge students need. I find using an even number of lines is best.
Have students use systems of equations to find solutions through graphing. Then have them turn their graphs into art.
Have students use sets of parallel and perpendicular lines.
Challenge students to create their graphing art using linear equations they come up with.

You can do this graphing art with graph paper you have on hand, but if you are looking for this project with lines chosen intentionally, as well as give students practice writing different types of linear equations then you need to grab my graphing art bundle. The art options in this bundle make differentiation a breeze!

You can also test out this bundle with my free graphing art option.

Create Art With Song and Performance

Art in math class can be more than just visual. Art can also be poetic, musical, or theatrical.

Have your students create a song or a puppet show to explain a concept that you just finished covering. For example, have students work in groups to create a song to remember the integer operation rules or types of slope. Have them use the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat or other simple song. Your students will have fun creating lyrics and best of all, will never forget the math concept they are learning!

These ideas give students who are more mathematical to stretch their creativity and students who are more creative to think about math in a different way. I hope you are able to find an idea that you will use in your classroom this school year.