String Art TEKS c.7.

An Adventure in "Line Designs" Name___________________

Who says you cant create curves with line segments? It is fascinating to
discover a curve formed from a series of straight line segments. Line designs
utilize basic geometric forms, making curves out of segments. Order and
symmetry are the basis of string art's appeal. Elaborate designs can be
created with geometric shapes, points, and colored string.

Line designs form a basis for mathematical understanding of geometric

shapes and relationships of points, segments, and angles. Each of the line
segments is really a tangent for each of the curves being formed. But because
of what we focus on, we often see the curves. For example, some of the
curves that can be created are circles, parabolas, ellipses, hyperbolas,
spirals, and some lesser known curves called cardioids, limacons, and
deltoids. Yet in each case they were created with angles of different sizes,
regular and irregular polygons, and a lot of segments and points.

Attractive and sophisticated line designs can be produced and created using only a ruler, compass, protractor,
pencil, and paper. Computers can be used to imitate this procedure; Geometer's Sketchpad is software that can be
used. Symmetry - line symmetry, rotational symmetry, and point symmetry bring interest and charm to your string
art.

Start with this!

And it could look like this!

You can use nails and wood, foam core or cork with strong pins, or a stiff piece of cardboard or thin wood with holes
in it to provide your working surface. You can paint or cover the working surface. String, embroidery thread or thin
yarn can be used to stitch your piece of mathematical art. The original placement of the nails/holes help to
determine the shape of the final project. For instance, if you construct the diagonals of a regular 24-gon (an
icosikaitetragon) you will be able to see many concentric circles. By adding different layers, different colors, and/or
varying the way you connect the nails/holes, the design gets more interesting. Sometimes the empty spaces in the
design are as important as the placement of the string. Notice how a curve was formed by connecting points along
the sides of an angle in the illustration below. Use your compass, a straightedge, and colored pencils to create an
original and interesting pattern to stitch.
 Major Parts of this Project
This is a major grade and should be taken seriously. This project is due on or before ____________________.

Three things are to be turned in:

1) your original design on paper. You are to incorporate at least three geometric concepts (i.e. acute, right, and/or obtuse angles;
triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and/or other polygons) into your design and label them on the plan you turn in.
Color-code the design that you will turn in with colored pencils - make two copies. Use one to hand in and one (a photo-copied one) to
aid in nail/pin/hole placement.

2) your completed string art project. The final project can be no larger than 15" x 15" if it is mounted on a flat surface or it should fit
into a 15" x 15" x 15" cube if it is 3-dimensional. Remember to put a hanger on the back of flat string art (The tab on a pop can nailed to
the back works well and can usually be obtained without an additional cost.) or a string hanger for 3-dimensional projects. Put your
name, grade in high school, and date on the back of your project.

3) a paper giving your completed piece of geometric art a TITLE/NAME and addressing the shapes and symmetry that can be found in
your original design. (See the Evaluation tool!)

Before you begin it will be helpful to find out about the strengths and weaknesses of various materials and how to avoid potential
hazards.

FLAT DESIGNS: Wood works nicely with nails since they can be nailed in tightly and will be strong enough to make sure that string can
be pulled tightly. Paint or cover your work area to bring out the beauty of your design. Place a copy of your design on the work surface
and secure it with tape while you attach the nails or pins or punch the holes for your design. Remove the copy carefully from the work
area after you've secured the nails or (if you think you can) after the string has been added to the design. Decorative nails are available
but remember that they become part of the design. Nail heads can be painted to become part of the design. If you use cardboard with
holes, use stiff cardboard that will not bend or bow when the string is woven. A second layer of cardboard on the underside trimmed
about 1/4 inch smaller all of the way around the shape will make it stronger. If colored cardboard is not available, paste colored paper
on a cereal box (paper board) cardboard and mount this on corrugated cardboard or foam core board. Make all of your markings on the
underside of the cardboard when sewing with your "string."

STRING: String that is too thin breaks easily; string that is too thick is hard to work with and takes away from the intricate designs that
you've created. String or thread that contains polyester tends to stretch over time so it is NOT a good choice. Embroidery thread and
thin string make good choices because of the availability of vivid colors and ease of use. Using lengths longer than 4 feet are often hard
to work with because they tend to get tangled. Secure your threads securely with tight knots (a very small amount of clear-drying glue
on the knot will help to secure it but make sure that it dries completely) or pull the string through to the back of the design and secure it
with strong tape. For each project, begin the weaving slowly until you become familiar with the pattern that youve created.

If you are making a 3-D design with straws, use thin cotton tatting, crochet thread, or one strand of embroidery floss. For wood dowels,
cardboard, or nails, these same types of thread or somewhat heavier cotton crochet thread works well. Caution: Polyester materials
may sag later because it gradually stretches over time. Pull the strings tightly while building polyhedron with the straws and while
weaving. Sagging straws and limp strings detract from the beauty of your geometric work of art. Winding the string on a spool or
cardboard tube will make working with wood and nails a little more manageable. For weaving on plastic straws, use NO MORE THAN 4
feet of string on the needle at a time. Youll get all tangled up if you do!

COLORS: Your string colors should coordinate with your background color or the colors on your straws. Contrasting colors make
interesting and attractive designs. When using two or more colors of string choose all bright colors or all pastels colors with the same
tone value. If you will be hanging your design from the ceiling, make your string a different color than the walls that will be in the same
room.

GLUE: Should you need to use glue, white clear-drying glue works best on wood dowels. If you are trying to get plastic straws held in
place, rubber cement works best.

STRAWS: Use a heavy needle and thin thread for dropping the threaded needle through the straws; the needle may get stuck inside
the straw if it is not heavy enough. Plastic drinking straws or stiff round stirring straws make neater models. Slender straws make neater
designs, however slimmer and longer straws tend to bend. When you make the holes in the straws, punching them closer together
makes them more intricate. However, if you punch them further apart it helps to prevent them from arching. If straws begin to bend,
insert pieces of coat hangers or thin dowels through the straws. Applying rubber cement will help to hold them in place.

WOOD DOWELS: The sturdiest 3-D models are made with wood dowels. Making notches takes more time, but the wood rarely arches
during the weaving. The most attractive models have slender edges and notches close together. Wood dowels make it easier to make
larger models that wont tend to bend or arch.
String Art: Teacher Notes
This project can be used as effectively at the beginning of the year
when first introducing points, lines, segments, angles, and planes as at
the end of the year during the unit on circles when you are studying
tangents. This project is highly motivational. If you have some
examples for your class to see, it is even more motivational when they
can really see the layers and the effect the colors and blank spaces
have on a design. Usually after the first year, there will be some
students who will allow you to keep their work. I have them hung on the
wall for all to enjoy.

To introduce the project, draw an angle and have students measure

equal distances with a compass along the sides of the angle from the
vertex. Then, connect the points with a straightedge to form a curve.

Next, have students draw several circles and along the circle, mark the distance of the radii, getting 6 points
on the circle. Bisect the distance between two points and measure that distance and continue marking off
that distance to create 12 points that are placed equally apart on the circle. On one circle, connect every
other point with a straight edge (see illustration below). On another, connect every third point and then on
another circle, every fourth point. Look at the difference that the patterns make. Then finally, using colored
pencils, make each pattern - each a different color on one circle.

There are several good resources to have on hand for this project.
Books:
Creative Constructions - Grades 5 and Up (1994), Dale Seymour and Reuben Schadler, Ideal School Supply
Company. (ISBN # 1-56451-080-8)

Line Designs - Grades 5 and Up (1994), Dale Seymour, Linda Silvey, and Joyce Snider, Dale Seymour
Publications.

How to Enrich Geometry Using String Designs (1986), Victoria Pohl, National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics (NCTM), (ISBN 0-87353-227-9)

Geometric Design (1988), Dale Seymour, Dale Seymour Publications (ISBN# 0-86651-424-4)

Websites:
String Art - An Adventure in Line Designs

http://teachersnetwork.org/dcs/math/stringart/

Spatial Sense - Going Around in Circles

http://nde4.nde.state.ne.us/NMSI/mathvantage/spatsense/lesson.html

Curve Stitching

http://montessoriworld.org/Handwork/stitch/stitch1.html

Curved Stitching Based on Circles

http://montessoriworld.org/Handwork/stitch/stitch2.html

Symmetry All Around You

http://teachersnetwork.org/dcs/math/symmetry/

String Art - An Adventure in Line Designs

http://otis.district87.org/staff/powelln/stringart/

Spatial Sense - Going Around in Circles

http://nde4.nde.state.ne.us/NMSI/mathvantage/spatsense/lesson.html
Mathematical Models with Applications

(c) Knowledge and skills.

(7) Mathematical modeling in fine arts. The student uses mathematical processes with algebra and
geometry to study patterns and analyze data as it applies to fine arts. The student is expected
to:

(B) use similarity, geometric transformations, symmetry, and perspective drawings to

describe mathematical patterns and structure in art and photography;