Same Symmetry:

Ruth Goodman                   Walt Disney Magnet School
                               4140 North Marine Drive
                               Chicago IL 60613
                               (312) 534-5841

Objectives:

Grade 5
 (1) Students will develop an understanding of symmetry and a sense of geometry. 
 (2) Students will identify lines of symmetry in a geometric figure.
 (3) Students will see that elementary geometry should be informal and allow for 
     exploration of ideas. 
 (4) Students will learn about the history of quilts.
 (5) Students will create a symmetrical quilt.

Materials Needed:

 (1) Scissors                 (5) Cuisenaire rods
 (2) Crayons                  (6) Mirrors
 (3) Tape                     (7) Two large poster boards
 (4) Graph paper              (8) Playdough

Strategy:

 (1) Teacher will show objects to the class and explain that their structure 
     relates to a mathematical term in geometry. 
 (2) Teacher will review the terms congruent and similar. 
 (3) Students will look for symmetrical objects in the room with vertical or 
     horizontal lines. 
 (4) Pass out playdough and paper with geometric shapes.
 (5) Students will make geometric shapes with the playdough and show lines of 
     symmetry on the paper and the playdough shapes. 
 (6) Pass out mirrors and papers for mirror symmetry.
 (7) Explain mirror symmetry and complete paper.
 (8) Pass out cuisenaire rods and graph paper.
 (9) Using the rods and graph paper, students will make a design on half of the 
     graph and then color the other side exactly like the rods. 
(10) Teacher will talk about the history of quilts and show a book.
(11) Then in their groups, the students will each design, name, and color their 
     quilt pattern. 
 
Performance Assessment:

 (1) Students will locate pictures from magazines that demonstrate bilateral and 
     radial symmetry. 
 (2) Students will design a quilt pattern with two lines of symmetry.

References:

Platts, Mary E, Intermediate Mathematics Challenge. Educational Service, Inc.
 Stevensville, Michigan, 1975.
Roth, Susan L. and Phang,Ruth., Patchwork Tales.   Atheneum. New York, 1984.