
HOME Site map Teaching Tips ..................... Art Be a K Teacher Bulletin boards Holidays Homeschool Ks Learning Centers MATH: How to teach Attribute blocks Geometry Graphing Math & Literature Measurement Manipulatives Money Numbers Pattern Sorting Symmetry Vocabulary Math Index Reading & Writing SCIENCE: Sc. Teaching Tips Environmental Teach science Science Centers Science Fair Science Index Show & Tell SOCIAL STUDIES: Skills & Topics Mapping More S.S. THEMES: ..................... Free newsletter Free K worksheets Graduation K Gifts K Magazines Software Support parents ..................... About Create a website Contact me Can't find it? Amazon.com K-lessons store	Teaching symmetry Geometry pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Teach 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 concept and vocabulary of symmetry if you give them time to play games and participate in symmetry activities. Simple Symmetry Game When teaching symmetry have children play the following game with a partner. As always demonstrate the game first. 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 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) 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.	Geometry Pages: 1.Skills & activities 2.Attribute blocks 3.Sorting skills & games 4.Classification - games 5.Teach symmetry 6. Geometry games for kids ............................. Teach symmetry with a winter theme... .............................. Canadian? Use Amazon.ca
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Teaching symmetry

Geometry pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Teach 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 concept and vocabulary of symmetry if you give them time to play games and participate in symmetry activities.

Simple Symmetry Game

When teaching symmetry have children play the following game with a partner. As always demonstrate the game first.

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 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

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

teach symmetry to young children 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) with construction paper and ask the question.

Teaching symmetry with art

teaching symmetry 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

teach kids 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.