Symmetry, Symmetry, Symmetry!!

Yesterday in class, we learned about shapes and the how symmetry is in the vocabulary bank for defining every shape. So, there are two definitions one is line symmetry and the other is rotational symmetry. Line symmetry is when a figure divides a figure into two congruent halves. To help truly illustrate this definition in class we each got a strip of white paper with a triangle, a square, a pentagon and a hexagon on it. With a ruler, we were supposed to draw all of the possibilities of a line of symmetry in each shape. (picture at the bottom of the post) I discovered after checking my work with everyone else's and the sample I forgot so many different lines! Then I learned that each line of symmetry can be drawn from every possible vertice within a shape and that changed my whole perspective and understanding of symmetry.

Next was rotational symmetry. A figure has rotational symmetry when it is rotated 0° and 360° the resulting figure coincides with the original. The number of times you get an identical figure is called the order. So to truly understand this concept we were given a colored piece of paper with three yellow shapes (square, parallelogram, and trapezoid) and three brads. (finished product below) As we cut out each shape we were instructed to poke a hole through the shape and then poke the brad and the shape through the colored paper and close it so we could glue it in our notebooks. Because of the brads, we were able to see the rotations that each shape could do. The square has rotational symmetry and can be turned in the order of 4. The parallelogram also has rotational symmetry and can be turned in the order of 2. And then the trapezoid has no rational symmetry as you could physically tell when you tried to move it, it would not rotate.

This activity truly helped me get a solid foundation and start to understanding symmetry which is also a foundation for understanding each individual shape we use in geometry. Also being able to physically touch and move things around helped me and also could help my future kinesthetic learners truly understand this concept on a whole other level.

Helpful link: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/symmetry/symmetry-matching
This is an interactive website geared towards 4-8-year-olds and learning about symmetry with colorful pictures and games.

(Line symmetry activity)

(Rotational Symmetry Activity)