Beacon Lesson Plan Library
Everything You Wanted to Know About Symmetry
Beverly Iacobellis
Bay District Schools
Description
This lesson introduces and reinforces the concept of symmetry.
Standards
Florida Sunshine State Standards
MA.C.2.2.1
The student understands the concepts of spatial relationships, symmetry, reflections, congruency, and similarity.
Florida Process Standards
Critical and Creative Thinkers
04 Florida students use creative thinking skills to generate new ideas, make the best decision, recognize and solve problems through reasoning, interpret symbolic data, and develop efficient techniques for lifelong learning.
Resource Managers
06 Florida students will appropriately allocate time, money, materials, and other resources.
Cooperative Workers
08 Florida students work cooperatively to successfully complete a project or activity.
Materials
-Internet-connected computer
-Magazine pictures or drawings
-Glue
-Safety scissors
-Paper
-Pencils
-Silver, Burdett, and Ginn's Mathematics textbook or any other appropriate math book
-Silver, Burdett, and Ginn's Mathematics practice page #10-6 or any other appropriate math practice worksheet (one per student)
-Teacher-made task cards and shape templates
Preparations
1. Gather all supplies needed for the workstations.
2. Cut construction paper to desired size for Workstation #1.
3. Prepare task cards and templates for Workstation #1.
4. Cut magazine pictures and glue to paper for Workstation #2. (Use drawings if you can't find magazine pictures.)
5. Tear out enough copies of practice page #10-6 or any other appropriate practice sheet.
Procedures
INTRODUCTION:
1. Teach the concept of symmetry by using the Silver, Burdett, and Ginn's Mathematics textbook (page 374) or any other appropriate lesson from another math series. Teaching this concept should be done in a whole-group setting.
GROUP WORK:
2. After teaching the concept of symmetry, let the students rotate through four workstations that reinforce the concept of symmetry. Have students spend about fifteen minutes at each workstation.
Workstation #1: Students read a teacher-prepared task card and complete the task assigned.
This is an example of a task card:
-Take a shape template and trace it on a piece of construction paper. Cut out the shape and fold the shape to show the line(s) of symmetry. Write down the number of lines of symmetry that you find.-
Workstation #2: Students reproduce the other half of a magazine picture or drawing. Each side shows the symmetry of the picture.
Workstation #3: Students complete Silver, Burdett, and Ginn's Mathematics practice page #10-6 or any other appropriate practice page.
EVALUATION:
3. Bring the children together in a whole-group setting to go over their answers on the task cards and practice page #10-6. This is the time to answer any questions that they may have after completing the workstations.
Assessments
Assess the students through teacher observation and questioning. Listen for:
1. Appropriate and accurate explanations about the number of lines of symmetry found in each shape.
2. Conceptual understanding as students answer probing questions about the results of their task card activities.
Extensions
1. ART: The children create symmetrical holiday borders for bulletin boards and artwork.
2. MATH: Additional activities for Let's Learn Symmetry can be accessed in Symmetry Stuff, an online lesson plan available from Beacon Learning Center.
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