Homemade Fish Crackers, Art, and Math Pedagogy

Snacks as Math and Art

Our fish crackers were inspired by the masterful art of M.C. Escher.  The fish shapes show the beauty and efficiency of wave patterns and curves. That math can be beautiful is something I learned too late; I want my children to be introduced to that truth early in their school years.

Learning math was usually a struggle for me. Reading this critique of the way mathematics is taught clarified some of the reasons why.   I can only guess how a passionate mathematician like Paul Lockhart teaches math to young students.
Not until I took geometry in high school did I start looking forward to math class.

It is my hope that hands-on learning opportunities like these fish will help my children discover that visual patterns and math are wonderfully and inextricably linked.  And we ponder such intricacies, we can have fun fitting the little fish back together as a puzzle.

Quick and Easy Fish Crackers : Tortillas as a Medium

First, cut the tortillas into symmetrical wavy strips.

Then trim the tortillas to form fish shapes. 

Finally, after cutting the fish shapes, bake at 200 degrees F for about 20 minutes to make them into crisp crackers.  Enjoy plain or serve with guacamole and/or cream cheese.