Spirograph

Spirograph

Spirograph is creative and beautiful while also supporting exploration of ratios, multiplication, and division!

Overview

This is an overview of the activity.

Materials

This is a list of all the materials you will need for this activity:

  • Spirograph Kit (Available at the Durland Alternatives Library)
  • White Paper
  • Extra thin markers, colorful pens, colored pencils

Details

We all love the classic kit of using gears, rings, and colorful pens to make captivating art right at home. But did you know that mathematics is at the core of every beautiful circular pattern? Every gear and ring is labeled with the number of teeth along its edges, allowing the artist to compare tooth numbers to determine what kind of shapes they can create. The comparison of tooth numbers sparks conversation of division, multiplication, number decomposition, and lowest common multiples, not to mention circumferences and patterns.

A Spirograph kit is available for check-out at the Durland Alternatives Library!

Discussion

What kind of shape will a gear with __ teeth and a ring with ___ inner teeth give you?

What kind of shape will a gear with __ teeth and a ring with ___ inner teeth give you?

What kind of shape will a gear with __ teeth and a ring with ___ inner teeth give you?

What kind of shape will a gear with __ teeth and a ring with ___ inner teeth give you?

Supporting Resources

Explore spirograph online! Click for SpiroMath at MathPlayground.com!