dovrar Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Does anybody know of any resources for teaching math with sewing? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matilda Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Are you looking for a sewing project that uses math or a math curriculum that uses sewing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awtl Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 This is what comes to mind for me. http://www.amazon.com/Mathematical-Quilts-Required-Blackline-Activity/dp/155953317X Hope it helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dovrar Posted November 6, 2011 Author Share Posted November 6, 2011 Are you looking for a sewing project that uses math or a math curriculum that uses sewing? Well, just a way to help a hands on learner cement concepts learned, or to help clarify one not quite understood. Does that help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 (edited) Dovrar, I read your post and have come back to it a couple times now, wondering if someone would have some whitty find. I guess from a practical standpoint, as one who sews and quilts, I would say that quilting especially is going to USE the math but not necessarily teach it. With the quilting class I taught a couple years back, I found that people who really *got* fractions did very well at the measuring and cutting methods using rulers and rotary cutters the way we do for quilting. But people who didn't get them weren't *helped* by the process, only frustrated. Cooking would be a lot easier way of practicing the same skills. You could make recipes for foot soaks, cookies, homemade liquid hand soap, etc. etc. and scale the initial batch up or down. Then you're using the math in a practical way. But none of that is going to be thorough enough to replace a curriculum, and it might frustrate the student if it's already a weakness. At least that's what I found in my class. Clothes sewing doesn't tend to have as much math as quilting. With quilting there can be a lot of math, but you don't really want there to be, kwim? That would mean you're designing, which again would overwhelm the beginner. Am I just being frustrating? I understand though that you're saying you want real ways for your hands-on learner to USE the math. Definitely. Have you looked at any Consumer Math books? There you have a high school textbook actually meant to do what you're asking for. The rest is just going to be too incidental and isn't going to give you enough, in an efficient enough way, to get you to a math credit for algebra, etc., sorry. But still DO the hands-on. Just think in terms of small projects, since the measuring is usually in the set-up. (pillows, runners, foot soak, cookies, birdhouses) There are also a lot of games that bring in good math. The other thing I wouldn't hesitate to do with an older student is bring in manipulatives. RS has a particularly good hardwood fractions puzzle. HOE (hands-on equations) has good manips to model pre-algebra and early algebra. That sort of thing. BTW, there are some hands-on or discovery-oriented high school math options. The name escapes my mind, but the series KarenAnne is using with her dd is very hands-on and discovery-oriented. Patty Paper Geometry is good. It's not like you have to leave the manips and real life behind, jsut because you hit high school. Ha, I think this may be the curriculum. Haven't used it myself, just eyeing it. http://www.keypress.com/x7815.xml PS. A circle skirt (or a 1/2 circle skirt, as you will) is a pretty straightforward sewing project with a nice amount of applied math. If she doesn't need a circle skirt for herself, she might enjoy sewing circles skirts in a doll clothes size. The method of drawing the pattern would be the same (google it, it's all math), and then she'd get to repeat it over and over several times without much expense. Ok, I'm just a mess of contradictions tonight. A simple handbag or totebag would also have a certain amount of math, not take a long time, and be enjoyable to a beginner. But all these are good applications, not a replacement for your normal curriculum, if that makes sense. I'll try to find the link to a place I like with good projects. Here, check out this link. http://sewmamasew.com See if that works. There's tons of great stuff there. My dd made a little 9 patch quilted door stop that was just adorable, very functional, and enough math without being too much or too involved. Like I said, if you do short projects, then she gets the benefit of doing the math over and over again as she cuts and preps for the next one. So think little projects. I'll surf there some more and see. I think one year they had a list of Christmas projects. Edited November 6, 2011 by OhElizabeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dovrar Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 BTW, there are some hands-on or discovery-oriented high school math options. The name escapes my mind, but the series KarenAnne is using with her dd is very hands-on and discovery-oriented. Patty Paper Geometry is good. It's not like you have to leave the manips and real life behind, just because you hit high school. Ha, I think this may be the curriculum. Haven't used it myself, just eyeing it. http://www.keypress.com/x7815.xml PS. A circle skirt (or a 1/2 circle skirt, as you will) is a pretty straightforward sewing project with a nice amount of applied math. If she doesn't need a circle skirt for herself, she might enjoy sewing circles skirts in a doll clothes size. The method of drawing the pattern would be the same (google it, it's all math), and then she'd get to repeat it over and over several times without much expense. Here, check out this link. http://sewmamasew.com See if that works. There's tons of great stuff there. My dd made a little 9 patch quilted door stop that was just adorable, very functional, and enough math without being too much or too involved. Like I said, if you do short projects, then she gets the benefit of doing the math over and over again as she cuts and preps for the next one. So think little projects. I'll surf there some more and see. I think one year they had a list of Christmas projects. Thanks so much for your help! I looked at both the Patty Paper Geometry and Discovering Geometry and like the looks of those. I had run across instructions for making a circle skirt and was considering that as a supplimental activity. Just recently I noticed that sewmamasew has instructions for drafting patterns which might be a nice hands on activity that could come in handy when she gets further along in sewing. Dd has already heard so many people say that they hate geometry that she's already dreading it. I'm not so worried anymore, I think we might actually have fun with geometry.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Yes, there's lots of fun stuff for geometry! Has she done any origami? We got one of those page-a-day calendars with origami, and it's fun. They have them in kiosks in the mall, or you might find them online. That way it's all ready to go, with the paper and instructions and projects going from easy to hard. If you're up for a challenge, the Eleanor Burns books (Quilt in a Day) have very clear, step-by-step instructions. Or look for what is called "stack & whack" which is a rotary cutter and lots of geometry to make something cool. And Jinny Beyer has an amazing book on Tesselations. Have you looked at the Khan Academy videos? My dd is also super-duper hands-on, but she enjoys the Khan Academy videos she's been watching. The color draws her in. Might be one more way to approach it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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