Reflection on Math Art Project

Looking back on my math art project, I would have to say that I learned a good deal. In terms of math, I learned a lot of new terms and possibly improved my ability to visualize complex polyhedrons. Before this project, I had never studied polyhedrons so I had never heard of an Archimedean solid or a Goldberg polyhedron and now have a much more concrete idea for the definition of a prism and antiprism. Now I notice them when I look at gazeebos.

 

I also never realized that soccer balls were so carefully put together and I think that the relationship of polyhedrons and soccer balls is the way that I would connect these ideas to a secondary school classroom. I imagine bringing a soccer ball into the classroom and holding it up for an examination and appreciation of its perfection as a Goldberg Polyhedron. That beautiful realization would be an effective way of inspiring and motivating students to learn math and to learn to see it outside of the classroom. Also, it would be much more effective in real life than over zoom. No offense to zoom. Love you zoom. It's important to keep the zoom gods happy. You never know when their favor towards you will turn. But seriously, I feel like motivating students to learn math is half the battle. Once a student is keen on learning about something, they will figure it out and understanding a soccer ball may help that to happen.

 

Although I already knew nature often followed complex design patterns of absolute beauty, I never get tired looking at them and that was a part of this project worth reflecting on and noting. I especially like the look of the artist’s inspiration, the fungus “sculpted puffball,” and it’s interesting color, which the artist tried to recreate.