A Visual Arts Activity Inspired by Works of Art from the VMFA Collection

Cultures all over the world create decorative patterns, perhaps inspired by the enduring patterns humans see in the natural world that surrounds us, from the cycle of the seasons to the pattern of the stars in the heavens. These hands-on activities, which can be adapted for a number of grade and ability levels, introduce repeating and alternating patterns, as well as the concept of a visual motif.

1. Have the students bring a Math graphing problem that they have been working on in class.  **This will take some coordination with their homeroom teacher in order to work! or present a simple graphing problem for them to solve.  It needs to have 3-4 variables. This is so that they can use 3-4 coordinating colors of yarn for their design.In this lesson, we will translate the bar graph chart into a horizontal graph design.  Use the numbers to represent rows of weaving. For example, if a 5 is represented in the information then color in a section of rows on the graph paper to represent 5 rows that will be woven in that color. Tell the students to use the same colors that they have on their math bar graph, when creating their graph for weaving so that there is less confusion.