7 Fun Math and Art Projects for Kids

When it comes to teaching math, it is important to have a variety of hands-on activities. The more hands-on the more younger students retain the the kills and concepts taugh. I am also a strong believer that all students no matter their age can benefit from concrete hands-on learning..  

When we combine math and art there are numerous benefits for children's development.  

🎲  First of all, it helps them see math as more than just numbers and equations.  

🎲  Second, engaging in hands-on activities that involve mathematical concepts, children can develop a deeper understanding of abstract mathematical ideas. Furthermore, incorporating math into art projects encourages creativity and critical thinking. It allows children to explore different ways of problem-solving and finding solutions. 

🎲 Last, these crafts provide a fun and interactive way for children to learn math, making it more enjoyable and memorable. We understand that time is valuable so we put together these 5 math and art projects/crafts for kids so you can use them , adapt them to differentiate learning for your students

Addition and Subtraction Ice Cream Craft

This addition and subtraction printable craft makes practicing addition and subtraction fun and engaging while practicing this particular math skill. Students will create math family ice cream sundaes. ANNNDDDD...there are two different ways you can use this math craft with your class. 

You can laminate the different ice cream scoops and bowls and use this repeatedly as a math center OR you can print off different math crafts for each student and create as a whole class project to send home, use as an assessment, or even use as a bulletin board! For more information on this fun craft idea for math class click here.   

Mosaic Math Art

Mosaic math art combines mathematical concepts with the creation of colorful mosaic designs. To make mosaic math art, you will need construction paper or cardstock in various colors, scissors, glue, and a ruler. Start by cutting the construction paper into small squares or rectangles of equal size. Then, use these pieces to create a mosaic design on a larger piece of paper or cardstock. Children can arrange the colored pieces in different patterns or shapes, creating a visually appealing mosaic artwork.

This craft incorporates concepts such as symmetry, patterns, and fractions. 

Children can explore symmetry by creating symmetrical designs using the colored paper pieces. 

They can also experiment with different patterns, such as alternating colors or creating

repeating motifs. Additionally, this activity provides an opportunity to introduce fractions, as children can divide the larger paper into equal sections and fill each section with a different color or pattern. 

Mosaic math art allows children to express their creativity while engaging with mathematical concepts...not to mention fine motor skills. We love this math and are projects and idea because it is unique to each student.

Students can also use pattern blocks or magnetic shapes to express their creative mathematical designs!

Click here for amazing math art and drawing games that your students will love!  Karyn is amazing! 

Paper Chains and Patterns

If your students are working on patterns you can easily create classroom paper chains with patterns like ABA, ABBA, ABCA, and more unique patterns. 

Have a museum sharing time or small group sharing time where students can create their own pattern paper chain and explain to the class what their pattern is and you can use these fun paper chains to decorate your classroom! I don’t know about you but I love when my students can decorate our classroom and take some ownership in the room.
 

Geometric String Art

Geometric string art is a craft that combines mathematical concepts with artistic design. To create geometric string art, you will need a wooden board or canvas, nails, colored string, a hammer, and a ruler. Begin by marking equidistant points along the edges of the board or canvas using the ruler. Then, hammer nails into these points, leaving a small portion exposed. Once the nails are in place, start weaving the colored string around the nails to create geometric patterns. OR SIMPLY USE GEOBOARDS!       

This craft incorporates several math concepts such as symmetry, angles, and patterns. Symmetry is evident in the balanced designs created by the string art. Children can explore different types of symmetry, such as rotational symmetry or reflectional symmetry, as they create their own unique designs. Additionally, they can learn about angles by observing the angles formed by the string as it wraps around the nails. Patterns can also be explored through the repetition of colors or shapes in the string art design.

You can use a simple paper plate or cardstock paper to make this craft even easier prep for you. Furthermore, students can hole punch their own shape and talk about it’s features and attributes as well. 

Button Day Math and Art Projects

Now button day is not something you hear about every day but it is November 16th every year. So why not take that silly national holiday and create a fun day for math and art. This printable and low prep packet is great for graphing. Best of all it includes multiple subjects, lesson plans, and more fun crafts too. Easily turn buttons into a fun art graphing project with this bundle. Find out more here.

Domino Basic Math Skills

If you are looking for an easy end of the year idea or any time of the year idea, your students will love this domino craft! Actually there is a National Domino Day, which is celebrated on November 11th, but you don't have to wait until then to use this adorable Dominic and Dominique craft to create Domino addition and subtraction math fact families

It is easy prep and fun for elementary students because you can make it addition, subtraction, multiplication, and even division. This resource supports counting, writing numbers, and more. The bet part is you can easily differentiate this for your students without taking you a ton of time. For more on this activity click here.

Math Fact Family Houses and Neighborhoods

Are you ready motivate your students to learn their math facts? These math fact houses will have your students engaged in ;earning their addition and subtraction math facts in a snap.

Creating these fact family houses allow math concepts to be tangible and engaging. This can capture students' interest and motivation, leading to better understanding and retention. Being able to see first- hand how these addition and subtraction fact families relate, is a valuable concept to support memorization.

For mor about this activity, check it out here.

So...as you can see, combining math and art projects /crafts has numerous benefits for children's development. By engaging in math-based art projects, children not only enhance their artistic skills but also deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts. These crafts provide hands-on experiences that allow children to explore mathematical concepts in a fun and interactive way. They develop critical thinking skills, spatial awareness, problem-solving abilities, and an appreciation for the beauty of math in everyday life!

I would love to hear some of your favorite math projects!  Please share in the comments!