Final STEAM Collaboration

In addition to getting a project completed this week, students worked in groups for their final STEAM collaboration: Radial Symmetry Chalk Art! 

On the first day, students got into groups of four and used a method outlined in the first part of this video to create a design that is using radial symmetry. They took turns drawing lines, shapes, and then repeating the designs across each line of symmetry. 

​On the second day, students went outside and translated their image to fit one of the concrete blocks on the sidewalk. Some chose to divide the work by quadrants, others selected which lines or shapes they were in charge of to draw. 

After establishing their shapes, the finished by adding color. The groups were amazing to complete ALL of this in only 45 minutes! 

The third (and final) day, students took their understanding of symmetry digitally and used Sumopaint and Photoshop to explore this idea further. In Sumopaint, students used the symmetry tool and kaleidoscope filter to create mirrored images and in Photoshop they used their original drawing and followed the steps outlined here.

Trevor O.: This was divided into 6 parts which means that it had 60 degrees of the image for each part. I liked How the lines point to the center with the music notes and blue. The colors got lighter towards the middle which was interesting with browns and blacks on the outside then oranges, reds, and blues in the center.

Alayna A.: While making this image, I did bump into some problems with the website, but these problems were a quick and easy fix. This compared to the large problem that was not so easily fixed on the radial design I worked on in class, was a very simple design. The image you see before you was so easy to make, and the radial design on paper was a hard to make. Transferring items over onto the paper was a difficult task and took very long, while transferring on this image happened automatically and did not require much work or time. However, on both images the artwork has been transfered, and has multiple shapes, (paper), or knots, (computer). I think that the work I created is good, but could use some improvements. As you can see in the image, there are serval spots where the curser moved, causing there to be some dents in the lines. One example is towards the top of the pink line, where it juts out from the curser moving. However, while this image has it's bad spots, I think it is fairly good, and I really like how all of the points meet in one spot for all of the colored lines. I thought that looked very nice, and it makes the middle of the paper quite colorful. Overall, there are improvements to be made, but nothing is perfect.

Blake P.: My color scheme is the same as the chalk art I had done and the colors try to keep cool but have warmer colors on the 4 corners and the small lines. Compared to the other Mandalas, mine is a little more complex. Working on photoshop is easier then on paper because on paper you have to fold then copy the image all around it.

Overall, the lesson and collaboration was probably the most successful to date! We had a great time working with both classes, students made beautiful work, and best of all they made learning connections across grades and subject areas throughout their activity! 

It was a little awkward at first, when the STEM teacher and I decided to combine our classrooms for quarterly collaborations. We were worried about whether or not it was going to work and if our curriculum would both benefit from the experience. After four successful quarters, it is safe to say it was the best decision we could have made for our classrooms and we would urge others to do the same. 

I am excited to do more STEAM collaborations next year (especially since we just learned that we received grant funding to purchase a 3D printer) - stay tuned for even more fun in 2016/17!