Incorporate math and language into a flower art lesson.
Art is often a forgotten subject with teachers trying to keep up with the new curriculum. Teach a math lesson as students create a spring flower from paper.
Flower Center
Students cut 2 squares about 2 inches in diameter. Students will create a tessellation for the cut square. A tessellation is a pattern with no gaps. Triangles, squares, and hexagons are an example of shapes that can repeat with no gaps. Students cut out the shape they require and use it as a template to trace. Sometimes students will have to rotate, slide, or translate to create the pattern.
Students color the tessellations with one or several colors. Glitter glue, paint, crayons, and pastels are some options to color the tessellations. Once colored, students will use a template to cut the squares into circles for the center of the flower. One circle is the front of the flower center and the other the back of it.
Flower Petals
Students will choose one or two colors for the petals of their flowers. Students will cut out 2-3 inch wide strips from construction paper. Students may use a ruler or fold the paper accordion style to create the petals.
Students will take one strip and glue the top and bottom of the strip together. They will not fold the strip in the middle, rather it will be rounded. Once all strips are folded, they will paste the petals to the flower center.
Students can glue the flowers uniformly or have some petals longer than the others, as well, they may overlap the petals.
Options: Each petal has a quote or inspirational word about spring, kindness or other theme. Students in the older grades may write in cursive and trace the word in a fine black marker.
Stem
Students cut out a stem from green construction paper. Stems can be straight or curvy. As well, students cut and glue 2-3 leaves on the stem. Next, glue the top of the stem on the back of the flower.
At the end, students glue the last flower center to the back of flower center to cover the back of the stem and flower petals. Spring flower is complete.
Options: Create stems from pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, and cardboard for stiffer stems.
Flower Display
Display the flowers in the hallways and around the classroom to bring spring into the air. Present the flowers on a bulletin board with the heading springtime or spring is in the air. Cut grass out of green construction paper and paste on the bulletin board. Place the flower stems behind the grass. As well, you might add a few ladybugs and a squirrel or two in the display.
Groups of students create a vase out of construction paper. The vase will have a back and front part. Spring flowers are glued onto one side of the vase with the stems partly covered and sticking up. Next the back part of the vase is glued to cover the other sides of the flower stems. Display the vases on windows, classroom door and the walls. Have the vases at eye level. In addition, have the vases overflowing with flowers.
Art is a wonderful opportunity for students to be creative but it also allows to teach mini lessons in math,science, social studies, and language. One paper flower has limitless teaching opportunities.
