Transformations

This year I enjoyed teaching transformations so much! Not only did I find some awesome foldable notes from Mrs. Hester's Classroom and To the Square Inch Blog, but I also continued to assign my two favorite projects of the year. Both of the projects are similar, and I require students to complete both. I do modify the assignment though based on interest/artistic talent and ability. Effort is most definitely graded, but I do give leeway to those who are not as in love with art projects as I am:) 

Two reasons I complete the projects:
     #1 It is a two year class, and we all can use the break to do something less structured.
     #2 My students really struggle with spatial relations and the more we touch objects, move objects, and practice, the better they do.

Project One: Tessellation (Based on M.C. Escher's Art)

I share a Power Point presentation I made about M.C. Escher's Art and its influence on the math world. In addition, we talk about real life tessellations from wall paper to tiles on the floor. I always provide some of M.C. Escher's artwork for the students to color on the "When you're done board..."

Level 1: Students with the most ability are encouraged to rotate, reflect, and translate a figure to make a tessellation.

Level 2: Students are encouraged to make a unique design out of their index card...perhaps make it look like a fish, bird, wave, etc.

Level 3: Basic design, clean lines, fit the translated shape crisply together. Then outline and color in neatly.

Level 1: 1st Place Winner

Level 1: Simple but Nice:)

Level 1: Honorable Mention

Level 1: Honorable Mention

Level 2: 1st Place Design

Level 2: 1st Place Design (This is a student who dislikes Art)

Project Two: Kaleidoscope Name Reflection Design

I wished I had taken pictures of all of my best Name Reflection Projects, but I didn't. Here are the two that I have left. Again, there are levels of difficulty build into them. Students who needed challenged were asked to create three dimensional letters and appropriately rotate and reflect using any method they wanted (as long as it was accurate). Tracing was fine. Students less blessed with the gift of spacial relations could use a simple design and simply reflect the information. There are more modifications for this project too if needed. 

You can find the instructions to the project here:

Level 2: Initials Used; Great Result

Level 1: Basic Design for Student who lacks talent and motivation. Still a great product