Geometric Design - Seven Circle Grid Patterns

Building on the seven circle shape discovery activity, we used a compass to create a seven circle grid and then used the grid to create geometric designs.

Both activities were based from the Islamic Art and Geometric Design from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This time instead of drawing seven circles and looking for shapes in the center circle we covered our papers with overlapping circles.

Next a ruler was used to create a shape in one of the circles. Then the shape was repeated in adjacent circles. After the first set of circles were filled with shapes, more shapes were created in the spaces left blank between the circles. The new shapes were repeated in the same pattern.

After the initial shapes were created, the designs were colored with colored pencils.

This activity can be very addictive. In the course of completing a design, other designs and possibilities become apparent begging for a turn to be colored. Everyone enjoyed it very much.


Here is a basic 7 circle grid. Please feel free to download it for personal or classroom use.
7 Circle Grid


Here are links to a few of our past Math Art posts.
Tessellations
Math Art - Geometry
Math Art for First Graders

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