Sunday, November 4, 2012

Working with small children, it's amazing how early some math concepts can be introduced, though not necessarily understood mathematically. One prime example is the concept of symmetry. As early as the "two's room" at the daycare where I work we inadvertently teach the kids about symmetry, simply by doing projects involving folding paper in half to create a cut out or to make a pretty paining (by smearing paint, folding the paper in half, and opening it again). One perfect example, especially this time of year is cutting out snow flakes, or christmas trees. If I were to teach younger children (1st, 2nd grade) symmetry, I would love to introduce it this time of year if I could, making trees with them and explaining how the fold of the paper is the line of symmetry, and how the two sides of the tree show reflective symmetry. I would then let them get creative and decorate their trees (symmetrically of course), but thats beside the point. A few lessons later, to show how some figures can have more than one line of symmetry, I would make snowflakes with them. Apparently Christmas time and winter lends itself perfectly to teach symmetry to kids. I would explain how things in nature, such as trees, flowers, butterflies, snowflakes, etc. occur symmetrically. 

Really complicated for small children, but really geometric looking. Yee.

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