Maryam Mirzakhani for children
Connect drawing, surfaces and creative mathematical thinking.
Quick answer
Maryam Mirzakhani was a brilliant mathematician who loved to draw and explore shapes. She discovered new ways to understand the patterns and surfaces that surround us in everyday life.Learning outcome
By the end of this page, you will understand how drawing and creativity can help you explore mathematical ideas, just like Maryam Mirzakhani did.Success signs:
- You can draw a shape and describe its parts
- You can find patterns in shapes around you
- You can explain how drawing helps you understand maths
- You can imagine how mathematicians like Maryam think about surfaces
Why this matters
Maryam Mirzakhani showed us that maths isn't just about numbers and calculations. She showed us that drawing, exploring, and asking "what if?" questions can help us understand the world around us. When you draw shapes, you're doing the same kind of thinking that mathematicians use. This helps you become better at solving problems and seeing patterns in everything from your bedroom to your favourite playground.How it works
Maryam loved to draw and explore. She would draw shapes, think about how they fit together, and ask questions like:- How many ways can I connect these points?
- What happens when I change the shape?
- How can I find patterns in the way things look?
She used drawing to help her think about surfaces – the flat and curved shapes that surround us. She would draw these surfaces and then think about how they move and change.
Examples you can see
Let's imagine you're playing with a ball. You can draw the ball, and then think about:
| What you see | What it looks like | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Ball | Sphere (round shape) | It rolls smoothly because it's curved all around |
| Book | Rectangle (flat shape) | It stands up straight because it's flat on the sides |
| Ice cream cone | Cone (pointy shape) | It has a point at the top and a wide bottom |
When Maryam drew these shapes, she wasn't just copying them – she was thinking about how they work and how they're connected. She looked at how a surface could be curved or flat, and how shapes can fit together in new ways.
Try it as a mini adventure
Adventure: The Shape Explorer's Quest
You are a shape explorer who must find all the shapes in your house and draw them. Here's your quest:
- First time: Draw a square (like a picture frame or a tile on the floor)
- Second time: Draw a circle (like a plate or a wheel)
- Third time: Draw a triangle (like a slice of pizza or a roof)
- Fourth time: Draw a rectangle (like a book or a window)
- Fifth time: Draw a shape you've never seen before (like a star or a heart)
After you draw, ask yourself: What makes this shape special? How could it be connected to another shape?
Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking that shapes are only flat or only round.
Why it happens: We often only see flat drawings, not real 3D shapes.
Fix: Try holding a ball, a box, and a cone to see how they feel and look.
- Mistake: Believing that only numbers matter in maths.
Why it happens: We hear about adding and multiplying, but not about drawing and thinking.
Fix: Draw your maths problems – it helps you understand them better.
- Mistake: Thinking that you can't be a mathematician if you don't like numbers.
Why it happens: We often think maths is only about calculations.
Fix: Maryam loved art and drawing – she was still a great mathematician.
Parent and carer guide
Help your child by:
- Letting them draw shapes and ask questions about what they see
- Looking at surfaces around the house together (like a window, a ball, or a book)
- Encouraging them to think about how shapes connect – like how a triangle fits into a roof
- Reading about Maryam's story and talking about how she used creativity to do maths
- Not worrying if they don't know all the answers – that's part of learning!
When you see your child drawing, ask questions like:
- What shape is this?
- How is it different from a square?
- Can you make it into a new shape?
Practice questions
- Draw a circle and describe what makes it special.
- Find 3 flat shapes in your room and draw them.
- Draw a shape that looks like a house. What parts does it have?
- What shape is the top of a pizza? What shape is the bottom?
- Can you draw a shape that has both curved and straight edges?
Answers
- A circle is round all around and has no corners or edges.
- Examples: a square (tile), a rectangle (book), a triangle (slice of pizza)
- A house might have a triangle for the roof and rectangles for the walls.
- Top: circle; Bottom: circle (flat circle)
- A semi-circle or a heart shape
FAQ
Who was Maryam Mirzakhani?
Maryam Mirzakhani was a mathematician from Iran who loved to draw and explore shapes. She discovered new ways to understand surfaces and patterns in maths.
Did she only do numbers?
No, she used drawing and creativity to understand maths. She believed that exploring shapes and patterns was just as important as doing calculations.
Can I be a mathematician too?
Yes! Anyone can be a mathematician. You don't need to be perfect at numbers – you can use drawing, creativity, and asking questions to do maths.
What did she discover?
Maryam discovered new ways to understand how shapes and surfaces can be connected. She studied how shapes move and change, and how they fit together in new and exciting ways.
Why is her story important?
Her story shows us that maths can be creative and fun. She proved that you can use drawing, imagination, and curiosity to do amazing things in maths.