string art

This project takes a long time and is very challenging. The best thing about it is that it gives kids experience in working through those challenges.  Students also leave knowing how to efficiently use a hammer (after hundreds of nails and a few sore fingers); how to divide decimals; and how to measure irregular shapes and curves.  I also like how it many of the designs force your brain to see lines which are not there: its one more way for students to notice that what their brain senses is only an approximation of what is really there tailor made to their needs; it is not neccesarily a tool for accurate description.

1. How overlapping straight chords form curves.
http://plus.maths.org/content/bridges-string-art-and-bezier-curves

http://mathforum.org/mathimages/index.php/String_Art_Calculus

https://www.khanacademy.org/partner-content/pixar/animate/parametric-curves/a/lesson-brief-animation


2. Resources & Galleries
http://mathcraft.wonderhowto.com/how-to/create-parabolic-curves-using-straight-lines-0131301/

http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/Paddle2See/89023

http://www.stringartfun.com/section.php/2/1/free-patterns