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How to Find Symmetry

Symmetry is when you can reflect or flip a figure over a line and the figure appears unchanged. The line that the figure is reflected over is called the line of symmetry. The line of symmetry divides the figure into two halves that are exactly alike. Symmetry can be found all around us in nature. Some shapes can have multiple lines of symmetry. A butterfly is a good example of symmetry in nature. When a butterfly clasps its wings together, both wings match along the line of symmetry that is the butterfly's body.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Geoboard
  • Rubber bands
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Instructions

    • 1

      Fold a piece of paper in half to make a seam in the center of the paper. Unfold it and observe the seam, which will be the line of symmetry. Fold the paper along the seam again and cut a shape, such as a heart or snowflake. Unfold the paper after cutting. You can see how the figure is symmetrical along the line of symmetry.

    • 2

      Use a geoboard to find symmetrical figures by making a shape from rubber bands on the geoboard. Use a second rubber band to make the line of symmetry. If the line of symmetry rubber band cuts the shape in half with matching shapes on either side, the figure is symmetrical.

    • 3

      Draw six shapes on a piece of paper. Try to find all of the lines of symmetry for each shape by placing a ruler through the center of the shape and drawing a line. If the opposite sides of the shape match without flaw, the shape is symmetrical. Try to find different lines of symmetry in the six different shapes.

    • 4

      Draw and cut out a shape from a piece of paper. Cut the shape straight down the middle. Place the two cut out sides on top of each other so that they match. Rotating and flipping may help to match them up.

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