Magic Squares at School 2

Math Professor in Residence Paul Odenwelder and Art teacher Beth Porto are working together to do a Magic Square project with students at School 2.  Mr. Odenwelder's work at School 2 is funded by the Garden State Partnership for Teacher Quality.

A Magic Square is an arrangement of numbers in a square grid in which the numbers in each row, in each column, and in the diagonals all add up to the same number. 

Magic Squares have a long history from ancient China to the modern era. A magic square was depicted by Albrecht Durer, a German painter, engraver, and woodcut designer, in his famous work, Melancholia, which was created in 1514.  In the picture below, PIR Odenwelder holds a reproduction of the engraving.  (The magic square is in the upper right part of the engraving.)

In the picture at the left Mr. Odenwelder teaches a lesson to fourth grade students how to create a Magic Square.

Below is a close-up of a student's Magic Square.  Note that the "Magic Number" of this square is 15.

The next step is for Art teacher Porto to take the students’ efforts to another level, assisting them in adding art elements:  line, color, shape, and texture.  Each student's Magic Square will become an individual work of art.  Look for a future post on this project.