Multiplication Art Activities: Curated List of Links

Multiplication and Art are Connected by Patterns

Multiplication is packed with interesting patterns which can be explored and expressed through art activities.  Creative projects that engage students’ imaginations as well as their logical reasoning are linked below. Associating multiplication with decorative and conceptual ideas found in art expands our understanding of the operation, and our number sense.

 Focus on Facts

Spaced repetition is a research backed educational strategy when it comes to learning math facts. Elaborating on known information leads to greater recall.  Students learning math facts need to use a variety of manipulatives ~ so that should include art supplies!

• Illustrations of plants and math facts
• Seeing math facts as art and a similar idea in progress
• Digital mystery picture  – $3 at time of writing – looks FAB!
• Waldorf inspired multiplication flowers
• Array City and more ideas
• A little art goes a long way; Alien Multiplication Chart

Patterns in Multiplication

Being able to explain underlying structure of multiplication patterns (doubling, repetitive addition, parity and so on) help students make sense of the processes and functions of multiplication and division.

• X2 Repeating Pattern 
• Circle patterns in the unit’s place of multiples
• Same patterns as above, represented on grids
• Squares and Roots make special multiplication patterns
• String Art reveals the patterns underlying multiplication

Explicit Connections 

Linking multiplication with other academic subjects strengthens the web of ideas connected with both topics. Neurons that fire together wire together – ideas that play togehter stay togheter. gives students another neural avenue of access leading to multiplication. Helps children understand in which circumstances multiplication is used.

scale, rectangles,

• Post-It Note Designs – area
• Beautiful fooling around with rectangles, area, and multiplication art
• Use stickers or doodles to show arrays or equal groups
• A photo collection of colorful arrays in real life
• Arrays in real life video (about 2 min)

Ephemeral Connections

Students who spend time doing art/math projects will connect the skills and ideas in math with their personal enjoyment of art – or with their love of vibrant colors – or with their parents doting praise and place on fridge – personal connections are important in learning.

Art lowers the cognitive load – well for students learning multiplication it does – 100 math facts per minute or draw a picture?

• Piet Mondrian and multiplication with intersecting lines
• Assigning shapes values, make a picture and multiply by numbers of shapes
• Intersecting line multiplication step by step (video: about 9 min)
• Use Jasper John numbers to create multiplication facts and or flash cards

I am on a quest to make math sticky! Let me know what you think about sticky math!