Geometry, Algebra and Quilt Making

By Carole Goettemoeller
caroleg@cris.com


OBJECTIVE: The students will relate geometry, the coordinate system, linear equations and art together to produce a product.

RATIONALE:
There are many people today who are returning to arts long neglected in the modern world. One of these is quiltmaking and quiltmakers are always looking for new designs to use to create a quilt. Most of these designs are produced using geometric figures.

DESCRIPTION:
This is a project for students to see how mathematics and a form of art are related. Using geometry they will create a design for quilt square using only line segments. These designs may be created on graph paper on an xy-coordinate grid. Coordinates of the endpoints of line segments will be identified and the corresponding linear equation for the line segments will be formed. These designs will be exchanged among participating students by sending the equations via email to participating schools.

Participants may recreate these designs by graphing the equations sent by other schools.

PREREQUISITES: Some creativity in making geometric designs. Ability to plot points on a coordinate plane, to form linear equations when given a pair of coordinates and to graph linear equations.

These designs may be created using linear equations with points of intersection determining the design.

GRADE LEVEL: 3 - 12 Whatever grade level the students can understand coordinates on a grid upto any more advanced level using linear equations.

PROCEDURE:
Last week in April to First week in May - Students will create a design on graph paper using only line segments. They will determine the coordinates of the end points of the line segments to make the design and then the linear equation of the line. These coordinates or equations will be sent back to us and to all participating schools by email.

Second and third weeks in May - When equations for the designs are received each class will graph the designs received and create their own collage of designs on paper or on cloth squares which could be made into a quilt. Everyone will be graphing the lines to discover the designs submitted by other schools.

Various mediums could be used if a cloth quilt is to be made. The designs could be painted, stitched, applied or transferred using any other method of choice.

APPLICATION:
If you would like to participate in making the RFTS Quilt Designs please register before April 22.

In addition, send the following information directly to Carole Goettemoeller.
We will send our design(s) using:
Choices: A) Coordinates of endpoints
B) Equations of lines
OPTIONAL: We will create the quilt squares we receive using the following medium:

****************************************