Calculus Art Project

Have students turn graphs of functions into art.

For many students, calculus seems completely unrelated to art because of its complicated formulas and processes, but this complex math has more to do with art than students think. Connecting calculus and art is a way to help students visualize the concepts discussed in calculus. Additionally, concepts such as functions have a direct relation to art..

Art Mediums and Calculus Topics

For this project, write art mediums on strips of paper and place them in a hat. Write calculus topics on strips of paper and place them in another hat. Have students draw a slip of paper from each hat at random and use them to create the project. Students must create a piece of art using the medium chosen about the calculus topic chosen, such as painting a graph, sculpting a representation of a concept or creating a picture to represent that concept. Mediums include watercolor, chalk, clay, finger paint and sculpture. Topics include derivatives, curve sketching, tangents, functions, radian and optimization.

Functions of a Picture

An art project using functions may be done in one of two ways. Students may choose to begin the project by choosing a function, graphing that function and using it to inspire a picture. For example, the function f(x) = x^2 creates a U-shape. Using some artistic vision, students might choose to color the inside of the U-shape orange to create a "glass" of orange juice or add two eyes and a nose to turn the U into a smiley face. Another way to complete the project is to have students choose a picture, transfer it onto graph paper and determine the functions required to make the main lines in the picture. To find the function of equations of the line, students should plug the coordinates of each line in a picture into a graphing calculator.

Calculus Comic Strip

Add writing to the art project and encourage students to create a comic strip about a topic in calculus. Each comic strip should be at least 10 panels long and define the topic being discussed. For example, a student could create a comic strip showing a character having trouble graphing a function and have another character explain the proper steps. Encourage students to incorporate real-life scenarios using the topics into the comic strips to help them realize the relevance of calculus while being creative. For example, students could create a comic strip to discuss how to figure out the area of a dome on a stadium.

Equation Art

Calculus is full of complex formulas, equations and functions. Have students create posters to outline common formulas and functions used in calculus, such as common derivatives and fundamental theorem and properties of calculus. Have students color-code the formulas and functions and include a brief explanation of that color-coding. Or simply allow students to write the formulas and functions artistically to give them a visual point of reference when it comes to using these formulas and functions on an exam.

References

• Needham Public Schools: Pre-Calc AB: Graphing Art Project
• University of Northern Colorado: Calculus 1: Art Project