Students on the 8th grade Galaxy Team have discovered an artistic side to mathematics in a unique project involving barn quilts. Combining math concepts with creative expression, the students designed and painted quilt squares on aluminum composite panels.
First, the students selected a design they would like to create and completed the necessary math to draw out the pattern on graph paper using skills taught at the 8th grade level such as reflections, angles, fractions, etc. Once they showed off their math skills on graph paper, they drew it on 10”x10” pieces of aluminum composite. Next, they painted utilizing the traditional barn quilt maker method - tape, burnish, paint, dry, and repeat until the color was what they wanted.
Kimberly Hess, a parent and experienced instructor in barn quilt design, played a central role in the project. She led the classes, sharing her expertise in barn quilt art and helping secure critical materials. Hess reached out to Ace Hardware and Sherwin-Williams, whose donations of paint and supplies helped make the project possible.