Submitted by: MaryAnn Kohl
UNIT: About Me - Measurement (Art/Math)
Lesson: Measure
Me String Art - from
the book, Math Arts
Grade Level: Pre-school and up
(adaptable to elementary)
Summary:
Measuring the body with lengths of yarn is a fascinating
experience for a young child that broadens self-concept and
encourages enlightening observations. The yarn is incorporated
into a collage that reveals patterns and relationships of sizes
and measurements.
Materials
Balls of yarn
scissors
tape (colored masking tape or craft tape is effective)
white glue
sheet of craft paper or poster board
2 children to work together (the measuring person and the
measured person)
Process
1. Spread out the sheet of
paper on the floor or tape it to the wall.
2. The person measuring should pull out a piece of yarn and
measure a part of the other person (the measured person), such
as the length of an arm or leg. Snip the yarn at the measured
length. Tape
or glue that piece of yarn to the craft paper. Stretching the
yarn into a long, straight line is one way to do this.
3. Measure another part of the other person, such as around the
head or a finger. Again, cut the yarn at the measured length and
then tape or glue the yarn to the craft paper. One idea is to
stretch the second piece of yarn next to the first, although
crossing them over or joining them in a long design is
artistically effective too.
4. Continue measuring with yarn until both artists are satisfied
with the yarn display.
5. Trade places and now measure the other person on a fresh
piece of craft paper, or use another color yarn and glue to the
first person's paper.
Variations
- Look for comparisons
between the yarn lengths. Sometimes there are patterns which
are readily evident in lengths and parts of the body.
- Tape the yarn to a
poster board - one piece of yarn next to the other - like a
graph. Label the yarn pieces with a drawing of a foot, leg,
neck or another body part that was measured.
- Use different colors of
yarn. Tape the yarn to the craft paper - then when finished,
take them off to create a non-objective work of art using
the starch line lesson by Pam
Stephens. Did the yarn in starch (or Elmer's glue mix) -
then arrange on black construction paper. Individual yarn
colors could be identified with drawings of the body parts
if desired. Use a variety of line art print - Jackson
Pollock and others.
