The Art of Kolams. Geometry and Creative Coding
Floor Art and Culturally-Relevant Computing
Target Audience:
Students from 5th to 10th grade. Suitable for schools, learning centres, and cultural organizations.
Objective:
Students will explore the cultural and mathematical significance of Kolams, a traditional Indian geometric art form, by creating their own designs and animating them through coding. This hands-on activity will enhance their artistic, mathematical, and computational thinking skills while incorporating the principles of Culturally Relevant Computing (CRC).
1. Introduction (15 minutes)
Materials Needed: Images of Kolams, projector, printed examples.
If possible, begin with a live demonstration where a family member of one of the students or a teacher creates a Kolam on the ground. This participatory approach immediately engages students and sets the stage for discussion. Follow this with a short presentation explaining that Kolams are geometric designs made with rice flour or coloured powders at home entrances in South India. Discuss their cultural significance, highlighting their role in daily rituals and their association with prosperity.
Mention that Kolams show mathematical patterns, such as symmetry, repetition, and transformations. Show real-life examples and invite students to share if they have seen or made Kolams before.
2. Hands-on Kolam Creation (30 minutes)
Materials Needed: Paper, pencils, coloured chalk or coloured powders.
Divide students into small groups and provide each group with paper. Encourage them to collaborate, imagining and deciding on a Kolam pattern together before sketching it.
Once their designs are ready, have them recreate the Kolam on the ground. They can choose to use the traditional method with coloured powders, or opt for a quicker version with coloured chalk. Encourage creativity while ensuring that all team members contribute to the design and execution.
3. Creative Coding (45 minutes)
Materials Needed: Tablets, Scratch or Octostudio app, internet access (if needed).
Each group photographs their Kolam using a tablet and uploads the image as a background in Scratch or Octostudio. Guide students to recognize and appreciate the geometric structures within their Kolam, then assist them in programming a virtual character to trace the design using loops for repetitive patterns, XY coordinates for movement precision, and conditional statements to create interactive animations.
Encourage students to go beyond tracing by using their Kolam as inspiration for an animated story or creative digital expression, allowing experimentation and problem-solving to enhance their creativity and self-expression.
You can check these examples in Scratch. Please, feel free to remix:
4. Presentation and Reflection (20 minutes)
Materials Needed: Projector (optional).
Each group presents their animation to the class. Facilitate a discussion on the challenges they encountered, how technology helped them understand the geometric structure of Kolams, and the role of Kolams in gender roles and cultural identity.
Key Learning Outcomes
Students will develop artistic skills by exploring cultural expression through Kolams, mathematical skills by recognizing symmetry, transformations, and patterns, and computational thinking by applying loops, sequences, and coordinates in coding. They will gain insight into Culturally Relevant Computing, using technology to connect personal and community heritage with modern digital skills, while also strengthening collaboration by working in teams to merge cultural heritage with digital skills.
Extensions and Variations
For advanced coding, introduce variables to create size variations and complexity in animations. Encourage storytelling by having students create narratives around their Kolams and animate them. Foster cultural comparisons by having students explore geometric art from other cultures and find similarities and differences with Kolams.
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This activity was collaboratively developed with Maria Berrocal i Arévalo for implementation during a stay in South India in 2024. For more information, refer to the article: Berrocal i Arévalo, M., & Muntaner Perich, E. (2024, November 27-29). Culturally Relevant Coding: an Experience in South India. Congreso Universidad y Cooperación al Desarrollo, Alcala de Henares, Spain. [English translation of the original paper] https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14620765.
The photos illustrating this activity were taken in September 2024 at Shanti Bhavan, Parikrma, and The Valley School in the Bangalore area, India.