Exploring and playing with symmetry

Counting

Ask 10 children to sit at the front holding numbers 1 to 10. Child holding 1 stands up, then children shout 1! Child holding 2 stands up, children shout 2! Carry on until all ten are standing.

Shout 10! Child holding 10 sits down, children shout 9! Child holding 9 sits down, children shout 8! Carry on until no children are standing. All shout ZERO!

Repeat across the week to include all the children.

Chants/Rhymes/Songs

Sing along with Five little apples, e.g. this animated version at www.bbc.co.uk. Ask children to hold up 5 fingers, then fold one down each time an apple falls from the tree.

Play an I-spy shapes game.

Story

The hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle.

Use this well-known book to stimulate discussion about the symmetrical pattern on the butterfly’s wings.

Exploring and Playing

Peg boards; pegs; mirrors (optional); gummed shapes; paper; mirrors (optional); small building bricks; doors and windows; salt dough/playdough in different colours; modelling tools; mirrors; branches and ribbons (optional).

Active Learning

Symmetrical butterfly template (enlarged and cut out – see example in resources); three paint colours; brushes; large mirror; flipchart and coloured pens; internet access; skipping rope per pair; camera (optional); real flowers, Symmetrical flower pictures (see resources), paint/collage materials, mirrors; folded cards; glue sticks; coloured pens/ pencils.

Creating and Thinking Critically

A small pizza for each child; mayonnaise; toppings, e.g. slices of pepperoni/ olives/ sweetcorn; camera/ phone suitable for children to take photographs; equipment to print photos; paper; paints and brushes; a range of paper shapes – some symmetrical, some not; 2 large sheets of paper.