How to learn and apply mathematics in the most creative way during the lockdown period? Days ago, Kongjiang Village 2 Primary School launched a week-long cloud fun mathematics theme week entitled “Between Metaphysics and Wisdom”. Through the creative design of mathematical geometry, the students of Kongjiang Village 2 Primary School integrate the meticulousness of geometry with the aesthetics of art, and strive to become proficient in mathematics.

By cleverly combining geometry with art, the students make mathematics colorful and clock face creative. The children in Grade One use the clock face skills they have learned, utilize imagination and creativity, and skillfully use their favorite materials to make creative clock faces.

Focusing on such topics as anti-epidemic and aerospace, many children present geometric figures or cartoon designs of various shapes through painting, cutting and splicing. While making clock faces, the students comprehend the close relations between mathematics and life, and form the good habit of cherishing time.

The small toy tangram is favored by many children. The children in Grade Two play a family interactive game of “Tangram” with their parents. According to the shape of the tangram, 12 pieces can be combined freely to see who design the most interesting and creative patterns.

The children, though at early age, have great wisdom. They use their brains, burst out thinking sparks, and design wonderful works such as the Underwater World and the Expectation of Spring. Through parent-child activities, the kids consolidate their comprehension of various geometric figures, and understand the division and synthesis of figures. More importantly, the activities promote the intimacy between parents and children.

“Dear students, I know you have mastered the area calculation formulas of rectangles and squares and the derivation process. But what methods can you think of to combine a figure with an area of 12cm2? Please draw your solutions on checkered paper!” Under the guidance of the teacher, the Third-grade students think hard. Some of them directly use 12 “whole grids”, and some use the method of “cutting, filling and moving” to create “incomplete grids” into patterns with a sense of design.

The students first draw drafts according to their design plans, then modify the colors and make improvements by following the teacher's suggestions before presenting works with distinctive plans. The child designers have developed multi-directional thinking in the activity of “interesting 12cm²”, thus improving their ability to apply what they have learned.

Circles are used almost everywhere in life. With the help of compasses and rulers, the Grade Four students are eager to use what they have learned in drawing circles and design exquisite works of circular patterns on the theme of epidemic control whose diameter stands at 12cm . By making circles with ruler and compass, the students have broadened their thinking horizons, cultivated geometric intuition, improved aesthetic tendency and developed practical ability.

“Handmade 3D model” is an interesting thinking activity that integrates geometry knowledge, labor skills, fine art, science and other disciplines. The Grade Five students, starting with the expansion of the cube, try to make a 1cm³ cube. After gaining experience in making cubes, they make 3D figures such as cylinders, triangular prisms and cones.

After accumulating some experience in making 3D graphics, the child designers make full use of the materials in life, such as antigen kit, oral liquid bottle, etc., to make ingenious design. At the same time, they use creativity to realize the conversion from plane to 3D, and produce a 3D 12cm³ model. With the help of 3D model, the students fully understand the structural characteristics of geometry, develop the concept of space, and improve their innovation ability.

The cloud fun mathematics week provides a stage for students of Kongjiang Village 2 Primary School to show their competency. The activities extend the classroom to extracurricular space, guiding the students to explore the mysteries of mathematics in life, and setting off an upsurge of playing with mathematics, learning mathematics and using mathematics.

“The happy and meaningful mathematics week has come to an end. Students experience the value of mathematics in the activities, develop the concept of space, improve thinking, cultivate mathematical competency, and feel the beauty of mathematics. It is also hoped that in their future study and life, they can continue to observe the world with mathematical vision, think about the world in the mathematical way, and describe the world with mathematical language”, said the person in charge of Kongjiang Village 2 Primary School.