GEOMETRIC PATTERNS – Islamic Design, Interlaced Ten-Pointed Star

Students will be able to:

• create a decagram grid; 
• create the interlaced ten-pointed star geometric pattern;
• use colour to create contrast; 
• demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity;  
• support their ideas with evidence found in the works.

Have students:

• research geometric design in Islamic art and create a presentation to share with their peers;
• create a video demonstrating how to divide a circle into 10 equal parts;
• teach a peer how to make the interlaced ten-pointed star.

1. Prior to this lesson have students practice drawing the decagram grid and creating the interlaced 10-pointed star. (Downloads – InterlacedTen-PointedStar.pdf)
2. Download and display the Shape, Colour and Contrast Posters available on this website.
3. Download Islamic geometric patterns from the Internet, for example,
   Islamic Tiles-Germany
   Louvre
   Khomeini Mosque
   Samarkand
   Islamic Miniature Painting
4. Review the background information about Islamic art and geometric design available from the MET website.
   Islamic Art and Geometric Design
5. Gather and make available books about Islamic design, for example, The Illustrated Guide to Islam: History, philosophy, traditions, teachings, art and architecture, with 1000 pictures, by Raana Bokhari, and‎ Dr. Mohammad Seddon; Mosque, by David Macaulay; Islamic Geometric Patterns, by Eric Broug; Islamic Design Workbook, by Eric Broug; and Islamic Designs for Artists and Craftspeople, by Eva Wilson.
6. Download and copy the circle divided into ten parts template enough for one per student. (Downloads – CircleTenParts.pdf)

1. View and discuss the geometric patterns in Samarkand.
   Point out things such as:
   - colour combinations 
   - use of line and contrast
   - 10 pointed star
   - bowtie pattern at top and bottom of the 10-pointed star – this shape is created because regular decagons cannot tessellate and in order to fill the flat surface without gaps the shape has to be incorporated into the overall design
   - use of decorative patterns to fill the geometric shapes
2. Share some information about the use of geometric patterns in Islamic art, for example,
   - Islamic art has 3 key characteristics – calligraphy using Arabic script; geometric pattern with interwoven designs and the arabesque or idealized plant forms
   - artists took geometric ideas from the ancient Greeks and Romans and created a whole new style 
   - the ideas and work of Islamic mathematicians, astronomers, and scientists were part of this unique new style
   - basic shapes are combined to create geometric patterns that can be repeated, interlaced, and arranged in intricate combinations
   - in Islamic art 4 basic shapes are used to create more complicated patterns – circles; squares or four-sided polygons; triangles; and multisided polygons.
3. Introduce the challenge.

1. Place students into small groups. 
2. Ask them to share their work and discuss the things that are especially effective and why.
3. Share ideas with the whole class. 
4. Ask students to tell how they felt about doing this project.
5. Have students:
   - work together to tessellate all the tiles in one group show
   - write a review of the group display that includes, description; analysis; and evaluation 
    

1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting
2. Observe students as they discuss the tiles – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
3. Use a checklist to track progress. (Downloads – Ten-PointedStar_tracking.pdf)
4. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Downloads – Ten-PointedStar_self-assessment.pdf)