01 November - Graph Paper Patterns

Objectives

• Students will use the pre-printed lines on a sheet of graph paper as a template for creating their own patterns, therefore following a simple pre-defined structure

• Students will use a ruler as an art tool (straightedge) and also as a measuring tool

• Students will apply the design elements of color, shape and repetition to create patterns

• Students will apply geometry and simple chart making skills to produce visually intriguing pieces, connecting mathematic principles of patterning with visual patterning

Materials

Graph Paper, size 8.5" x 11", grid size 4 squares per inch

Ruler

Markers

Pencils

Markers

Process

1.Have students use rulers to divide a sheet of graph paper into nine sections with a graphite pencil. They should draw two vertical lines and two horizontal lines, placing them wherever they wish.

2. Have students choose one section at a time and make their own color selections. Assign one pattern at a time either by drawing an enlarged example of it on the board or showing a pre-drawn piece of paper. Examples:

Small Checks: Line 1: 1 square color, skip a square. Line 2: skip a square, 1 square color. Repeat.

Medium Checks: Line 1: 2 squares color, skip 2 square squares. Line 2: same. Line 3: skip 2 squares, 2 squares color. Repeat.

Small Stripes: Line 1: all squares color. Line 2: all squares another color. Repeat.

Varied Stripes: Line 1, 2 and 3 all squares color. Line 4: all squares another color. Repeat.

3. Instruct the students with pre-defined patterns for the first six sections. For the remaining three areas, have students try to make up their own patterns and invite them to describe how they created it line by line, square by square.

4. Mount the finished drawings on black matboard to display.