Lower School Art and Math Collaboration Brings Da Vinci to Life

As art teacher Holly Smith had hoped, studying da Vinci’s notebooks, drawings and proposed inventions inspired the students to put their own ideas on paper. In an extension project, three classes of 1st Graders engaged in the thinking/drawing/measuring cycle of discovery that da Vinci used to investigate human proportions, notably in the Vitruvian Man.

Lower School technology integrator Melanie Gregory photographed students standing as a “T” and as an “X.” Lower School math specialist Tori O'Shea then helped students find the connections between math and art as she demonstrated how to use  a ruler and a compass to draw a square and circle around their photos. The students also used yarn and other objects to measure their body proportion.

“I hope the Vitruvian Man project will inform future art activities, including drawing the full figure,” Mrs. Smith said.

The project also connected with an art activity on identity that all 1st Graders began in September. In that exercise, students drew and colored self-portraits, and collaged and positioned a favorite book in the outstretched arms and hands of each child. Students paid attention to painting arms and hands to match their actual skin tone.

“The Vitruvian Man project provides another opportunity to discuss and express identity that goes beyond facial features, skin tone and even the books we read!” Mrs. Smith said.