You must have observed various shapes and objects that look exactly similar even when viewed from different angles. Interesting, right? That’s because these shapes and objects are rotationally symmetric! Rotational symmetry is a crucial concept for children. It is a type of symmetry that describes how two rotations can look similar to each other. As rotational symmetry is also useful in real life, it becomes vital for teachers and parents to introduce this concept in a comprehensive manner.
While it is an important aspect of Math, the concept can be tricky to explain. Even when it is easy to verbally communicate, the teaching approach should be practical to engage children in the learning process. Practical teaching works well as compared to theoretical explanations leading to misconceptions about the concept.
In this case, entertaining games and activities come to your rescue. These activities and games are designed in a manner that leads to higher student engagement while keeping them active in learning. As they require less preparation, it is easy for parents and teachers to conduct these games and activities frequently. Check them out and use them in the classroom or at home to let students know the tricky concept of rotational symmetry.
Entertaining Games and Activities to teach Rotational Symmetry
Activities are a good way to engage students in learning different concepts of rotational symmetry. These games and activities are a unique path to inculcate knowledge and create a fun learning environment. Check out these activities and games to play in the classroom.
1. Using circles
This engaging activity focuses on the basics of how rotational symmetry can be seen in circles. The circle is a good example to teach the concept because the shape has no sides or particular angles to keep it intriguing for students. You need to arrange colored card paper and scissors for this activity.
- For this activity, ask children to draw a circle on colored card paper and cut it out.
- Now, ask the children to place this circular cut-out on another paper.
- Next is to ask them to draw an outline on the new paper.
- Ask the children to place the cut-out on the circle’s outline with a peg pinned through the center to keep it in place.
- Ask the child to rotate the circle each time and allow them to share their views.
- The trick is that the circular shape is bound to fit into the outline.
Such an activity is important to teach the concept with colorful materials. The activity also increases concentration level and focus-building skills. Children are likely to develop observational skills by watching the circles thoroughly.
2. What’s the number
This is a fun game that can be played with a Deck of cards. The game is suitable for multiple players playing at once. It aims to improve critical thinking and teach the concept of radial symmetry.
- To play this game, arrange a deck of cards and let all students sit in a circle.
- Ask one student to shuffle the cards.
- Now, ask the same player to flip the top card on a flat surface.
- This player has to read the number in front of other players.
- Ask the player to rotate the card by at least 180 degrees to understand the concept of rotational symmetry.
- Now ask the player to determine if the suit is symmetric or not.
- For example, players may find that eight diamonds are symmetric but two of hearts are not.
- In this way, the player who can determine symmetry correctly wins the game.
This is an interesting game where players are likely to enjoy a challenging mindset. They also get an opportunity to understand the concept in a practical way which they can also show to their parents and siblings.
3. This is my Dart Board
The concept of rotational symmetry becomes easy when explained through the help of a dart board. The activity can be played with large groups and even small teams. For this activity, you need to arrange a circular board, colored paper, and pens.
- To conduct this activity, ask children to make their own Dartboards using a circular board and colored papers.
- Guide them to stick different colored papers to make their boards creative.
- Once done, give a dot or a crayon to each player and let the activity begin.
- Now ask players to throw the dart aiming at the center of the bond.
- With the next player, rotate the board by a quarter to help children understand the concept of rotational symmetry.
- Ask children to observe the position of the dartboard and invite an open discussion about it.
- Allow them to speak their opinions of how the dartboard looks similar from all angles and sides.
This is an interesting activity to engage children in a visually appealing board and also be creative in understanding the concept. As children get to throw the crayons or the dart at the center, they also develop motor skills in this activity. The activity helps build concentration, focus, and observational skills.
4. Let’s make a Mandala
Mandala is a unique concept of art that is intriguing with its design and formations. Surprisingly, it can also be a good example to teach the concept of rotational symmetry. In this activity, you need a sheet of blank paper.
- To conduct this activity, ask students to draw sets of concentric circles on paper.
- You can help them do this by showing a sample on the board.
- Now, ask them to fill the mandala with different patterns, intricate shapes, and lines.
- Once they are done with the drawing, ask them to rotate the paper.
- Allow them to ensure that the basic shape of the mandala remains the same even when rotated.
Such an activity helps students understand rotational symmetry by being engaged in creating the mandala. Additionally, creating Mandala offers healing benefits by soothing the classroom environment. It is a detailed process that helps students focus and pay attention to minute details.
5. Logos
Children are often good at observing different shapes, forms, and colors. Here, the activity takes advantage of their observational skills to explain the concept of rotational symmetry.
- To conduct this activity, give students a day or two to observe everything around them.
- Whenever they are coming to school and going home, ask them to observe different logos around them.
- It can be any logo of a clothing store, an eatery, or a car showroom.
- Now, ask children to make a note of these logos.
- After a day or two, ask students to describe the logos that they have seen and if they follow rotational symmetry or not.
- You may also ask them to draw certain logos that are easy.
- They can now show the process of rotational symmetry through their own creation of the logo.
The activity is a good one to increase their observational skills. They also learn to recall information after being asked by the teacher. When students are asked to show their logos and describe them, crucial aspects develop verbal communication.
6. Walk in the nature
Nature is equipped with some nice ways to explain rotational symmetry to students. In this activity, you require taking students out of the classroom and letting them wander around nature.
- In this activity, take students on a nature walk, probably around the school campus or a designated garden around the school.
- Now, ask students to observe different elements of nature.
- They can identify various plants, leaves, flowers, and trees.
- You may also ask them to collect flowers, leaves, and other elements of nature that depict rotational symmetry.
- Ask students to collect these elements purely on their understanding of the concept.
- Once done, invite an open discussion in the classroom and see what students picked in the nature walk.
- Ask students to explain how certain flowers and Pine cones show rotational symmetry.
- You may also go creative and ask them to rotate these elements and see how the shape or angle does not change the view of the selected element.
Such activity allows students to connect with nature and see how the relationship of math is connected to nature. This also helps them understand different flowers and leaves along with their features thereby developing their general knowledge.
Wrapping up,
While math is a tricky subject and often feared by students, it is a good idea to integrate engaging activities and games to teach the practical concepts of the subject. Rotational symmetry is yet a confusing topic where students are bound to have certain misunderstandings and misconceptions. However, activities make it easier to inculcate practical knowledge and make students more comfortable with the various aspects of the subject matter.
Not only do these activities create intrigue in students but they also help build a comprehensive learning environment.
Games and activities also invite humor thereby making the environment stress free. It helps children express opinions and raise doubts. Additionally, teachers and parents can always opt for jokes, real-life examples, different books, and manipulatives to teach rotational symmetry. While rotational symmetry is a crucial concept, ensure that you indulge students in activities and games that help build focus, concentration, imagination, and motor skills.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,