Seeing Symmetry Activities
by Loreen Leedy
A common factor among butterflies, dinosaurs, the letter A, human and animal bodies, airplanes, totem poles, etcetera, is one that most people don’t think about very often…SYMMETRY! An underutilized resource (in my humble opinion), symmetry is a great way to demonstrate basic math concepts such as REPEATS…EQUALITY…PATTERNS…REFLECTIONS…and ROTATIONS.
Because symmetry is so visual, there are approximately 1 zillion activities to do with kids that incorporate it in one way or another. As a quick introduction to the book’s theme,
show kids how the back cover is a mirror image of the front.
After reading the book, send them on a symmetrical silhouette hunt with this page:
To pick up the PDF of my ALA handout that includes the above printable, please visit this page of my website. Another option is this free 21-page Activity Pack which includes several additional options for drawing, folding, tracing, sorting, and otherwise working hands-on with symmetry.
Another resource is my Seeing Symmetry board on Pinterest, which has over a hundred photographs and links to kirigami cutouts, papel picado banners, designs, drawings, iPad apps, and other symmetry teaching ideas. You don’t need to have a Pinterest account to view it and follow the links back to their original source.
Hope you’ll be having a Symmetrical Summer!
Save the date! June 23, 2012 Nonfiction Book Blast 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Posted on June 4, 2012 by asuen