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What Mathematics Means to Me in My Educational Environment

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What Mathematics Means to Me in My Educational Environment

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In my high school art classroom, math often feels like the “quiet guest” at the STEAM table . It's present, but not always visible. However, I’ve come to realize that math is deeply embedded in what I teach, whether it’s through proportions in fashion illustration, symmetry in design, geometry in pattern making, or even time and spatial planning for long-term projects. The golden ratio, perspective, tessellations, symmetry and geometry are all integral parts of creation in the arts. Even moving to art history, I cannot escape mathematics. From Piet Mondrian's abstract art to Islamic art to the work of MC Esher, mathematics is everywhere.

Integrating math more intentionally can give students a richer, more interdisciplinary view of their creative work.

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Why I Feel Uncomfortable with Mathematics

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Why I Feel Uncomfortable with Mathematics

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Since I was young, I’ve struggled with math anxiety. I was always told I was “bad at math”, even though my grades (typically between a 70 and 80) weren’t terrible. They only looked that way when compared to my 96-100s in other subjects.

That label stuck with me and affected my mathematical confidence for years. As an adult, I understand that I probably just needed different pacing or supports. But that early messaging made math feel like an enemy, not a tool. That discomfort has stayed with me, and it’s part of why I haven’t leaned into math integration in my teaching as much as I could.

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Proportional Drawing & Scaling

When teaching fashion illustration or figure drawing, I could introduce basic ratios and measurement concepts to help students understand body proportions and scale drawings up or down accurately. In fashion design, we use the 10 head figure and there are very specific proportions when creating said figure. This stays true whether you're drawing a figure that is 5 inches tall or 15 inches tall. So we could play around with withdrawing fashion figures at different heights and keeping them in proportion.

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Geometry in Design Patterns
Students could analyze and create repeating patterns using geometric shapes. This could link to both textile design and concepts like tessellations and symmetry. Maybe they could even creating a repeating pattern of their favorite logo or simplify drawing.

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Budgeting and Cost Estimation for Art Projects
I could introduce real-world math by having students plan a mock budget for an art show or materials for a personal project. This brings in addition, multiplication, and unit pricing in a way that connects directly to their creative work. This would be a more traditional mathematics approach in the art classroom. But I could see this working well in my branding and marketing class.

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Other Art Educators Using Mathematics: Example 1

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Other Art Educators Using Mathematics: Example 1

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Art and Geometry Integration (Middle School Level)
A teacher I worked with last year used compass and straightedge constructions to create mandala designs. Students learned about radius, diameter, and symmetry while producing beautiful art rooted in math.

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Other Art Educators Using Mathematics: Example 2

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Other Art Educators Using Mathematics: Example 2

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Perspective Drawing in a 9th Grade Art Class
A high school art teacher I had taught us students how to draw architectural buildings using one- and two-point perspective techniques. Students studied photographs of real buildings and had to determine where to place their vanishing points, most times even off the physical page, to create realistic depth. This process required spatial reasoning, proportional thinking, and an understanding of how angles and distance work together visually, making math an essential part of the creative process.

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Two Resources Focused on Mathematics in STEAM

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Two Resources Focused on Mathematics in STEAM

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1. Integrating Math and Art – Smithsonian Learning Lab
This curated collection from the Smithsonian Learning Lab explores how artists use geometry, pattern, measurement, and proportion in their work. It includes interactive tools, primary sources, and ready-to-use activities for the classroom.
https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/math-and-art/zYqCdeYgyGVGoZ3r

2. Teaching Geometry Through Art – STEAM Powered Family
This resource offers creative projects that combine geometric concepts with hands-on art-making. It’s perfect for helping students visualize math in a concrete, engaging way.
https://www.steampoweredfamily.com/?s=geometry