of symmetry. Cutting paper snowflakes and working with rubber band designs on the geoboards began our investigation.
As materials were manipulated, many questions arose:
What is symmetry?
Is it the same as a pattern?
How is it different?
What is symmetrical and what is not symmetrical?
Where can we find symmetry?
One kindergarten friend had learned about symmetry in a television program and shared with the class that symmetry is "something that you can fold in half, for real or pretend, and the two sides look just like the other one." After the teachers shared the idea that a line of symmetry acts as a dividing line for each side to mirror the other, the children began to ask even more questions. Does the line of symmetry have to go just up and down? Can it go sideways? What about this way?
Symmetry work was the perfect opportunity to put strong kindergarten social skills together with collaborative math partner work! Using pattern blocks and snowflake designs, the pairs first worked to create a design that was identical all around. Using a wooden dowel as a line of symmetry, the partners then looked to find vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines of symmetry. Communication and taking turns was key to successful work.
The next step was to further challenge our problem-solving kindergartners with the task of creating their own symmetrical designs with a blank piece of paper, a wooden dowel for a line of symmetry, pattern blocks, a collaborative and focused spirit, and creative imaginations! One child would add a shape and then the partner needed to add the same shape in the same position on the other side of the line of symmetry.
The children needed to stay focused, be attentive to the moves being made, and take turns adding to the symmetrical design. Below are just a few of the intricate and complex designs that evolved.
A final mathematical symmetrical challenge was for partners to draw a line of symmetry with a ruler on a piece of paper and then draw symmetrical designs together- again taking turns, noting spatial relationships, and adding the skills of hand and eye coordination by drawing! The children were up to the challenge and declared it was "hard." Several children wanted to do a second symmetrical drawing and worked right through snack time. Great work kindergarten!
The winter season also lends itself perfectly to the topic of symmetry as the children could create symmetry through art with mono-prints. With a piece of folded construction paper to create a line of symmetry, the children careful traced one mitten and cut out the folded paper. Opening it up, the children saw two attached mittens and began painting a design on one side of the paper, folding, rubbing, and opening it up to reveal some magic! The children painted, folded and rubbed several times as they began to understand what they were creating- symmetrical mittens!
After reading several books about symmetry and noting how often it is seen in nature, the children next focused on creating symmetrical snowflakes with masking tape and water color paper. With intentional thought, each child created his/her own symmetrical design with the tape. During the next step, decisions had to made about what color sky the snowflake would be falling from. Using water color, the children carefully applied the desired colors, noticing how the masking tape resisted the paint. After painting, the children could choose to add salt to the wet paint, creating a textured effect on the paper. The artists were eager to remove the tape but needed to wait patiently for all of the paint to dry to reveal the magic. Be sure to keep and eye out as the symmetrical snowflakes begin to appear and adorn our hallway!
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