This elementary symmetry art project makes a good introduction to symmetry for younger students. Describe symmetry and asymmetry to the students and show them some examples. Give each child a piece of paper and have them fold it in half. Students should then draw a picture on one half of the page, so that it ends at the fold. Students then go over their pencil drawing with a crayon, pressing as hard as they can. Students fold the paper over the other way, so the drawing is hidden. The teacher then presses a hot iron over the paper. The crayon will melt, and when the paper is unfolded, the children will have a symmetrical picture. They can then paint their drawings with watercolor paints.
This elementary symmetry art project is appropriate for children of all ages. Show the children some pictures of city skylines. Students should then fold a piece of paper in half length-wise and place the paper horizontally. Students then draw and color in a street scene on the top half of the paper. The scene should touch the fold line. Students turn their paper around, so the blank half is on top, and draw outlines of the buildings, trying to make them look like mirror images of the buildings on the other half. Color these in with water colors and, before the paint dries, brush a swath of water across the paints. When dry, children will have a picture that looks like a street scene reflected in a lake or in the rain.
This elementary symmetry art project makes a good introduction to symmetry for young children. Discuss symmetry with students, and the plane of symmetry. Have students fold a piece of paper in half and unfold it. Students then drop blobs or dabs of acrylic paints near the crease of the paper. Fold the paper in half and run a hand along the paper, from the fold to the outside. Unfold the paper and a colorful, symmetric design will be revealed. The paper can then be cut into the shape of a butterfly, and eyes and antenna can be added. The paper can also be cut into the shape of a flower, or any other colorful object or animal.
Students can learn to distinguish between symmetry and asymmetry with this elementary art project. Provide students with a variety of sources of pictures, such as magazines, newspapers, and print outs. Have students fold a sheet of paper in half. On one side of the paper, they should make a collage of pictures that are asymmetrical. On the other side, they should make a collage of pictures that are symmetrical. Discuss with the students what types of items are more commonly symmetrical or asymmetrical. For example, certain types of clothing or shoes, or of people are often symmetrical, while natural objects, such as trees and rocks, are usually asymmetrical.