Bringing Math Concepts to Life Through Art and Technology

Elementary school is the perfect time to show students that mathematics isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the patterns and structures that shape our world. When young learners experience math through varied modes like visual and tactile, they begin to see it not as an abstract subject, but as a language of design, rhythm, and beauty.

By integrating visual arts and technology, educators can make math come alive—transforming concepts like patterns, symmetry, and tessellations into hands-on, engaging explorations that nurture both creativity and critical thinking.

Here are four strategies that can help you bring this interdisciplinary approach into your own classroom.

4 STRATEGIES TO CONNECT MATH TO ART AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The Pattern Hunt. Before introducing a formal definition of a pattern or symmetry, teachers can spark students’ curiosity and help them see that math exists everywhere. Patterns are all around us—in nature, architecture, and even the clothes we wear. When trying to spark this inquiry in my own classroom, I begin with an open discussion: “What patterns do you notice in nature? Where else do you see repetition or symmetry?”

As students begin to share their ideas, they connect mathematics to the real world. Next, I engage my students in a “pattern hunt.” I invite my students to look for patterns around the classroom, outside, and around the entire school. Students draw the patterns they see or take pictures to share with the class.

This active exploration builds a sense of discovery and ownership. Students begin to recognize how mathematical order exists naturally in their environment. It also cultivates visual literacy, observation, and connection-making skills—helping learners view math as a living, aesthetic phenomenon rather than a worksheet subject. Later, these photographs and sketches become their personal inspiration boards for art projects and reflections.

2. Make Learning Tangible. Students grasp abstract ideas best when they can touch, move, and manipulate materials. Integrating both physical and digital tools ensures that all learners find meaningful entry points into understanding.

I like to start with concrete manipulations. During math sessions, I introduce pattern blocks, tangrams, mosaic tiles, or even simple paper cutouts, inviting students to create repeating designs or mirror images that demonstrate symmetrical balance. I encourage them to name shapes, identify angles, and notice how repetition creates visual harmony—for example, “Can you make a tessellation using only triangles?” or “How can you change one shape to make the pattern continuous?”

These tactile experiences strengthen spatial reasoning and reinforce geometry concepts in a playful, low-pressure environment.

Once students have explored the tactile side with concrete manipulatives, you can take them to digital tools. Apps such as TesselManiac, Silk, GeoGebra, and Kaleidoscope Painter allow students to replicate, rotate, and transform shapes with precision. Many of these are free and web-based, making them easy to integrate.

What I love about these tools is how they make invisible math ideas suddenly visible. For instance, GeoGebra lets students build and move shapes around on the screen—when they drag a corner or flip a figure, they see how symmetry, rotation, and reflection work in real time.

Silk and Kaleidoscope Painter are more artistic—they turn symmetry into something you can play with. As students draw, they begin to understand balance and repetition in an intuitive way. TesselManiac helps them explore how shapes can fit together perfectly without leaving any gaps, which makes concepts like tessellation feel more like solving a creative puzzle than doing math.

These kinds of digital explorations give students instant feedback. They can test an idea, change it, and see the result right away.

To help students connect the physical and the digital observations, invite them to discuss their experiences: What was easier to create? What could you achieve digitally that you couldn’t with paper? This comparison builds metacognitive awareness—students begin to reflect on how different mediums influence both process and outcome.

3. Learn From Masters. Art history offers powerful examples of how mathematical thinking fuels creativity. Introducing students to artists who blend math and art helps them bridge the gap between analytical reasoning and artistic expression.

Two timeless examples are M.C. Escher and Bridget Riley. I introduce each of these artists to my students by showing them images of each artist’s works and guiding them in a class discussion: What kinds of patterns do you see? How did the artist create movement or balance? Can you find symmetry or repetition in the design?

Then, I invite students to design their own art inspired by these masters. Here are some possibilities:

• Use paints, crayons, or collage materials to build repeating motifs.
• Experiment digitally using platforms like Tessellation Creator, AutoDraw, or Sketchpad to explore geometric repetition. I’ve found that Tessellation Creator works beautifully when students are studying Escher, since it helps them see how a single shape can transform into something completely new just by rotating or flipping it. AutoDraw is great for quick, expressive mark-making. It can encourage students to focus on movement and rhythm. Sketchpad, on the other hand, gives them a chance to layer and play with symmetry tools, helping them experiment with optical effects and repeated motifs inspired by both artists.
• Combine hand-drawn and digital techniques to showcase their evolving understanding.

Once students have created their own artworks, encourage them to reflect through journaling or short discussions: What did you learn about patterns while creating this artwork? How did math help you make artistic decisions?

4. Cultivating Thinking Skills and Learner Dispositions. An integrated approach to math, art, and technology nurtures not just academic understanding but also the thinking skills that drive lifelong learning.

Students naturally engage in critical and creative thinking when they explore open-ended design challenges. They analyze visual patterns, make predictions, and adjust designs to achieve balance or symmetry. These problem-solving moments are the heart of mathematical reasoning.

Additionally, math-art challenges often require patience and iteration. When students face frustration—like when a tessellation doesn’t align—they learn resilience. Encouraging them to reframe “mistakes” as part of the artistic and mathematical process strengthens confidence and perseverance.

Integrating art, math, and technology isn’t just about engagement—it’s about meaning-making. Students develop a holistic understanding of how math underpins the world’s design while nurturing creativity, inquiry, and innovation.