Teaching symmetry with games and art...
When teaching symmetry to young children introduce new vocabulary with hands on activities.
There is not much point trying to explain new concepts to early learners verbally unless you give them hands on experiences at the same time.
Young children will begin to understand the concepts and vocabulary of symmetry if you give them time to play symmetry games and experiment with symmetry art.
Simple Symmetry Game
When teaching symmetry have children play the following game with a partner. As always demonstrate the game first.
Materials for 2 kids:
Pattern blocks, dowel rod or largest size tinker toy, mat
- Give 2 children one mat
- Place a rod, such as the longest dowel stick in a Tinker Toy set in the middle of the mat
- Have child #1 put one pattern block down on his/her side of the mat touching the rod
- Child #2 copies by putting the same block in the same place but on the other side of the rod
- Continue the game with 5 or six blocks and then remove the blocks
- Repeat with child #2 starting the design
- Point out to the class that they have made designs that are symmetrical
- Explain that they are symmetrical because each side of the rod has blocks of the same color and in the same place
- Repeat the game during the next week with new partners
Integrate activities into themes when teaching symmetry
Kids love learning large words. Although they may not get them quite right in the beginning, after playing with symmetry for a week and reviewing it once or twice a month by integrating symmetry into theme activities, the students soon come to remember new words and the concepts.
Teaching symmetry by comparing real things & pictures
If you have real things in your room that are symmetrical show them to the students and ask, "Is this ___ symmetrical? Why or why not?"
If you do not have real items make simple symmetrical pictures and some that are not symmetrical (see sample above) with construction paper and ask the question.
Teaching symmetry with art
The first time I do this activity with the students, I do it in steps, demonstrating one step, then having the children complete the step, checking to see that each child is successful.
Beforehand, ask a parent to cut out large basic shapes and then cut them in half. Give the students each pair of cut out shapes one at a time after you demonstrate the step.
- Give each child a large sheet of paper with a line drawn down the middle
- Have the child glue half of a shape on one side of the line then the other half on the other side of the line
- Keep repeating until all shapes are used up
- Use stickers to complete the symmetrical picture
After the activity - Give the students another paper with a line drawn down the middle. Then provide another paper such as the sample here. Have the children cut the shapes out and create their own symmetrical designs.
Print the sample paper onto colored paper or construction paper if you photocopier allows it.
Folded paper and paint symmetry
Give each child a piece of 12 x 18 paper folded in the half. Have them open it and place two or three teaspoons of different colored liquid paint on their paper. Let them close the paper and rub the top.
Demonstrate first, showing them how to rub the top of the paper carefully but thoroughly. The kids love opening their paper to see their symmetrical butterfly designs.
For more fun, embellish the pictures with glitter glue after they dry.
Canadian?