Rectangle Tiles

1. Give each student a piece of white paper. Ask the students to measure the paper and define its area.
2. Instruct the students to carefully measure and draw rectangles of different sizes until their paper is completely filled. Instruct the student to keep a list of the area of each rectangle they draw.
3. Once the students have completely filled the paper with rectangles of varying sizes, ask them to add the area of all the rectangles they drew and compare it to the area of the paper.
4. Instruct the students to use Crayola® Washable Markers to create original designs inside the rectangles. Encourage the students to leave some rectangles blank as needed to reach their desired aesthetic.
5. Instruct the students to use a ruler to outline each tile block with a black marker.
6. Ask the students to write a journal entry describing their choices. Why did you choose the colors you used? What inspired the designs you drew?

Math: Classify two-dimensional figures based on the presence of parallel or perpendicular lines, or the presence or absence of angles of a specified size.

Math: Measuring rectangles and finding their area. Recognizing that the sum of the area of adjoining rectangles will equal the sum of the paper they are drawn on.

Math: Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole.

Math: Find the area of a rectangle with whole-number side lengths by tiling it, and show that the area is the same as would be found by multiplying the side lengths.

Math: Apply the area and perimeter formulas for rectangles in real world and mathematical problems.

VA: Students will investigate, plan and work through materials and ideas to make works of art and design.

Measure the area of a room in your house. Can you design the tile for that room? Draw your plans, carefully marking the area of the room and size of the tiles.

Use larger paper to create custom placemats for home! This would require a laminator. What a great gift for a holiday!

Explore the work of Piet Mondrian and use primary colors and less design in the product.