Math/Beadwork Activity Suggestions for Teachers

By Jim Barta, UMC 2805, Dept. of Elementary Education, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, email: Jim.Barta@usu.edu

There is virtually no mathematical concept appropriate for elementary school students that cannot be illustrated using beadwork.

Students can:

1. explore patterns (alternating bead colors)
2. explore shapes (geometry-naming and classifying)
3. explore symmetry (line and point)
4. explore basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
5. count a row of beads
6. count the number of beads of each color in a row
7. write a number sentence using words to describe the row(i.e. white and white and red and white and white are five)
8. write the same number sentence  using numbers/symbols instead of words (i.e. , 2 white + 1 red + 2 white = 5)
9. write the number sentence (i.e.,2+1+2=5)
10. write the number sentence using variables to represent the colors (i.e., w+w+r+w+w=5) and then simplify to (2w+r+2w=5) or(4w+r=5)
11. describe an entire beaded sash using algebraic notation
12. explore the notion of equality using the median bead to represent the “=” sign
13. explore percentages
14. explore ratios (number of one color compared to another)
15. explore fractions (number of one color compared to the total number of beads)
16. explore properties (commutative associative, distributive)
17. explore fact families (i.e., examining the number of numerical combinations equal to a specific sum)
18. explore multiplicative arrays
19. explore perimeter and area
20. explore measurement using standard and nonstandard units (bead sizes)
21. explore various base systems (determined by the number of beads in each row)
22. explore money (value of beads, of final product etc.)
23. explore time (time it takes to complete a task)

These are just a few of the ways you may choose to connect art/culture and mathematics in your classroom.  Please send additional suggestions or ideas to me and I will add them to this list and share them with others.  I would also appreciate if you would share them with others and if you would share with me any descriptions of your experiences using beadwork to teach mathematics.