Sub-strand: Shape—Shape – 1
Sub-strand: Location and transformation— L&T – 2
LINKS TO OTHER CURRICULUM AREAS Information and Communication Technology • Symmetrical images of Indigenous art can be found through a simple internet search. • Five pieces of symmetrical art work by Aboriginal artist Clifford Possum can be found at <http://prezi.com/exjkcnjshj_p/ copy-of-symmetry-examples-in-aboriginal-art/>. Note, however, that two of the artworks show rotational symmetry rather than reflectional symmetry. • There is a simple symmetry ‘game’ that can be found at <http://www.innovationslearning.co.uk/subjects/maths/ activities/year3/symmetry/shape_game.asp>. What is good about this game is when you (deliberately) get a question wrong, the explanation as to why the answer is incorrect is very good, showing the shape folding on itself.
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• A series of symmetry activities with three levels of difficulty can be found at <http://www.haelmedia.com/ OnlineActivities_txh/mc_txh4_001.html> • A large number of different activities about symmetry can be found at <http://greatmathsgames.com/Symmetry/index. htm>
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• A simple activity where a series of dots are joined to make half a pattern so students fill in the other half can be found at <http://www.softschools.com/math/geometry/symmetry_game/>. Note: Each line section has to be made by clicking on two dots and cannot be done continuously by assuming that it will join to the dot just used.
Health and Physical Education
• Students create symmetrical shapes with their bodies that their partners try to reproduce. For example, a student may hold both arms out from his or her body at about the same angle.
• Mirrors: similar to the above activity, with partners facing each other. One student makes a shape or does a particular movement with his or her body (symmetrical or asymmetrical) and the partner must mirror it; so if the student raises his or her left leg, the partner raises his or her right leg, as would appear in a mirror.
The Arts
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• Students’ early experiences with symmetry comes about with ‘blob’ pictures, where blobs of paint are placed on paper, then the paper folded in half and pressed down. When opened out, the paint design will be symmetrical about the fold (the line of symmetry). Students can decorate these ‘blob’ pictures to make animals or other designs.
Science
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• Students look for symmetry in nature; e.g. flowers such as asters, banksias or bottlebrush. Also look for items in nature that are asymmetrical, such as kangaroo paws and emu bushes. Students could go for a bush walk to look at the different types of species in their area and which ones have symmetrical flowers.
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Symmetrical
Asymmetrical
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Australian Curriculum Mathematics resource book: Measurement and Geometry (Year 3)
Symmetrical
Asymmetrical
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