Introductory Lesson on Lines of Symmetry

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog!

Today was one of those days that reminded me exactly why I love being in the classroom. Our for today was an introductory lesson on lines of symmetry, and let me tell you it was a lesson filled with creativity and excitement. We kicked off  the lesson by writing two words on the board: cemetery and symmetry. It sparked some curiosity; we dove into a fun game called “Dictionary in Hand.” Students worked together to look up and share the meanings of both words. This simple activity helped them recognize the correct vocabulary in a memorable way and of course, they quickly figured out which word fit the activity we were about to do. We had an discussion on the topic so the students could understand the concept of the lesson.

Next, we moved into a hands-on demonstration using a plain sheet of paper. I folded it in half and creased it down the middle. When I opened it, I explained that if a shape folds in a way that its edges match perfectly, then that crease is called a line of symmetry. Students were excited to fold their own sheets and saw the idea come to life right in front of them. But we didn’t stop there. To deepen their understanding, I showed them an asymmetrical image, like a tree with uneven branches. We compared it with the perfectly balanced shapes they just created. With a few guiding questions, students quickly grasped the idea of what makes something symmetrical versus asymmetrical.

Then came the real excitement. During the Explore phase, students were given paint and a plain sheet of paper. They folded the paper in half, applied paint to one side, then pressed and opened it to reveal a beautiful, symmetrical butterfly. The smiles on their faces said it all. It wasn’t just a math's activity it was math's, science and arts combined.

 

                                     

We followed up with some reflective discussion where students described what they observed. They noticed how both sides of their butterflies were identical and how the fold they made created a perfect line of symmetry.

In the Elaborate section, we expanded the conversation beyond the classroom. Students examined real-life images like leaves, faces, cars, and houses and discovered how symmetry shows up all around us. Working in pairs, they sorted the pictures into “symmetrical” and “asymmetrical” groups and explained their choices. It was incredible to hear how confidently they were using the vocabulary and identifying symmetry in everyday life. The students weren’t just learning they were exploring, discovering, and creating, which is exactly the kind of classroom environment I strive to build every day