Garden City third graders combine mathematics with art in interdisciplinary zoo lesson
Garden City third graders recently completed their “Grade 3 Area & Art 2026” project, an interdisciplinary experience that blended mathematics with artistic expression by exploring the connection between spatial reasoning and visual design.
Centered on the core concept of area, the project encouraged students to move beyond abstract formulas and apply mathematical thinking in meaningful, real-world creative contexts. Working collaboratively, third grade and elementary art teachers guided students as they designed and illustrated imaginative zoo layouts, bringing their creations to life through color, detail and artistic interpretation.
A key focus of the project was developing students’ understanding of area as additive. Students reinforced the idea that the total area of a complex figure can be determined by decomposing it into smaller, nonoverlapping rectangles and summing their individual areas.
Throughout the process, third graders engaged as critical thinkers as they decomposed complex shapes, identified dimensions and solved multistep area problems. They acted as effective communicators by clearly explaining their reasoning in writing and carefully labeling and justifying their designs. At the same time, they demonstrated creativity by designing unique zoo environments while applying mathematical constraints in thoughtful and imaginative ways.
Overall, the project provided a meaningful opportunity for students to see how mathematics and art intersect, strengthening both their conceptual understanding and their ability to creatively problem solve.