PBS
Using Symmetry to Create Corporate Logos
Young mathematicians investigate the use of symmetry in graphic design. After first learning about reflection, translational, and rotational symmetry, children use this new knowledge to identify symmetry in letters of the alphabet and...
Curated OER
Reflectional Symmetry And Rotational Symmetry
Fifth graders study reflectional symmetry and rotational symmetry. They go outside and explore symmetry in the environment. They come back inside and make symmetrical masks that represent their way of life.
Teachers Network
A World of Symmetry: Math-Geometry
Define and identify the three basic forms of symmetry translation, rotation, and glides with your class. They cut out and arrange paper pattern blocks to illustrate symmetry, create a Cartesian graph, and design a rug with a symmetrical...
Curated OER
Creating and Destroying Symmetry
Students study the types of symmetry that appear in different basketball symbols. They point out changes that rotate symmetry from one type to another.
Exploratorium
Beyond Dominoes: Polyominoes
Dominoes, polyominoes, tetrominoes, and pentominoes are the subject of this interesting math activity designed for middle schoolers. Pupils cut out shapes that are embedded in a worksheet in the plan, and experiment with them by taping...
Curated OER
Transformation
Third graders investigate symmetry by reflecting objects in different angles. In this geometrical transformation lesson, 3rd graders define the terms translation, rotation and reflection in order to physically turn geometric...
Curated OER
Perfectly Puzzling Pentominoes
Second graders utilize manipulatives (pentominoes) to demonstrate knowledge of: lines of symmetry, slides, reflections (flips), rotations (turns), area, and perimeter. This lesson gives students a meaningful way to practice these...
Curated OER
The Geometry of Paul Goble's Artwork
Students examine the concepts of geometry used by Paul Goble in his book Adopted By The Eagles. After analyzing Mr. Goble's work they create an original piece featuring symmetry, pattern, repetition, and other principles of geometry....
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Length and Perimeter
Third graders explore tessellations and the spatial concepts used in creating them. For this tessellations lesson, 3rd graders rotate, reflect and transform shapes to create tessellations. Students become familiar with the vocabulary...
Curated OER
Logo Licenses
Third graders find all the lines of reflection symmetry in a given shape, identify the order of rotational symmetry of a given shape. They create designs which have reflection symmetry, rotational symmetry (orders 2, 3, 4, 6) and...
Curated OER
Fold and Cut
Second graders explore line symmetry and the names and attributes of two-dimensional mathematical shapes. They study the context by folding and cutting out shapes to make a series of mathematical shapes.
Curated OER
Seeing Double
Students develop an intuitive definition for symmetry after viewing a PBS video. They examine asymmetrical patterns and demonstrate their knowledge by changing them to symmytrical.
Curated OER
Patchwork Quilts
Fourth graders examine about traditional quilting patterns, the symmetry in such patterns, and practice creating patterns of their own. They design a quilting pattern, and groups make colorful "patches," of a pattern. They assemble the...
Curated OER
Keeping in Shape
Third graders describe patterns in terms of reflection and rotation symmetry, and translations. They design and make a pattern which involves translation, reflection, or rotation. They demonstrate why a given tessellation covers the...
Curated OER
Tessellating Tiles
Second graders Make, name and describe, using their own language and the language of geometry, everyday shapes and objects. They create and talk about geometric patterns which repeat (show translation), or which have rotational or...
Curated OER
Let the Light Shine Through!
Students display knowledge of line of symmetry by designing a geometric stained glass window pattern.
Curated OER
Fold and Cut 2
Second graders make, name, and describe, using their own language and the language of geometry, everyday shapes and objects. They create and discuss geometric patterns which repeat (show translation), or which have rotational or...
Curated OER
Geometric Collages
Fourth graders investigate the concept of geometric patterning. They create their own patterns with a few basic requirements. The patterns must illustrate the concepts of flipping, 90 and 180 degree rotations. The collages also consist...
Exploratorium
Cut-Fold-Staple
Here is an interesting activity that combines paper folding art and geometry. In it, learners have a stack of index cards that are bound together. They draw a shape on it, and cut out the shape. When they unfold their shape, they have...
Curated OER
Mathematics in Art?
Fifth graders view prints of M.C. Escher's work. They look at examples of geometric figures and polygons and discuss places they have seen them. Students create their own tessellations. They write a report about the process they used in...
Curated OER
Terrific Tessellations
Students explore tessellations that are found in nature and everyday objects. They observe the works of M.C. Escher. Students create their own tessellations using pencil and paper.
Curated OER
Tessellating Art
Fourth graders create artwork showing their own unique tessellating shapes. They apply the symmetries of a regular polygon and describe the reflection or rotational symmetry of a figure or object. They share their art work with the class.
Curated OER
Geo Jammin' By DeSign - Day 5, Lesson 24: Read All About It!
Students listen to The Important Thing About Quilt Design and rewrite an original version using geometric terms.
Creative Educator
Tessellation Sensation
Geometers investigate patterns and symmetry, and examine the artwork of M.C. Escher on the Internet. They compare his style to the floor and ceiling tiles in the classroom. If you have ImageBlender™ software, you could have your class...