Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Symmetry in Relation to Axes

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to present the objectives that students should achieve by the end of the lesson, guiding both the teacher and the students on the skills and abilities to be developed. These objectives will guide the practical and interactive activities to deepen understanding of symmetry in relation to axes.

Main Objectives

1. Recognize symmetrical figures and identify their axes of symmetry.

2. Calculate the distances of points in relation to symmetrical axes and points of symmetry.

3. Understand and apply the concept of reflective symmetry.

Side Objectives

1. Develop critical thinking skills when analyzing symmetries in everyday objects.
2. Use digital tools to explore symmetry in virtual environments.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to activate students' prior knowledge and promote an initial reflection on the topic of symmetry, connecting it with examples from the real world and their own experiences. This will help engage students and prepare them for the practical activities that will follow.

Warming Up

Symmetry is a fundamental concept in mathematics that can be observed in various forms around us, from nature to human constructions. It involves the exact correspondence of shapes and sizes on opposite sides of a dividing line (axis of symmetry). To start the lesson, ask students to use their cell phones to find an interesting fact about symmetry in nature or architecture and share it with the class.

Initial Reflections

1. What examples of symmetry did you find in nature or in objects around you?

2. What is an axis of symmetry? Can you describe it in your own words?

3. What geometric figures do you know that have symmetry?

4. How can symmetry be useful in our daily lives?

5. Have you seen symmetry in any interesting place? Where?

Development

Duration: 70 - 80 minutes

The purpose of this stage of the lesson plan is to provide students with an opportunity to practically and creatively apply the concepts of symmetry through activities that utilize digital technologies and are contextualized with their reality. These activities aim to make learning more dynamic and engaging, allowing students to explore and deepen their knowledge in a playful and collaborative manner.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 -  Symmetry on Social Media

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Recognize and apply the concept of symmetry in everyday images, using digital tools to edit and enhance symmetrical aspects.

- Description: In this activity, students will explore symmetry through social media by taking and editing photos that demonstrate different types of symmetry. They will use image editing tools available on their phones to create visual compositions that highlight axes of symmetry and reflective symmetries.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must choose a theme for their photos (e.g., symmetry in nature, symmetry in architecture, symmetry in the human body).

• Ask students to take photographs that exemplify symmetry in their chosen themes.

• Using image editing apps (e.g., Instagram, Snapseed, VSCO), students should identify and mark the axes of symmetry in their images.

• Each group must create a brief presentation (it can be in a social media post format) explaining the type of symmetry they found and how they edited it to highlight that symmetry.

• The posts should be shared on a digital platform decided by the teacher (e.g., Google Classroom, a class WhatsApp group).

Activity 2 -  Exploring Symmetries in Minecraft

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Apply concepts of symmetry in a virtual environment, developing the ability to plan and execute symmetrical constructions.

- Description: Students will use the popular game Minecraft to build structures that follow different principles of symmetry. They must plan and execute constructions that clearly demonstrate vertical and horizontal axes of symmetry, as well as reflective symmetries.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group is tasked with designing and building a structure in Minecraft that contains clear examples of symmetry.

• Groups must plan their constructions on paper before starting in the game, defining where the axes of symmetry will be.

• Using Minecraft's creative mode, students should build their structures as planned.

• After construction, students must take a screenshot of the structure and digitally mark the axes of symmetry.

• Each group must share their constructions and explanations about the symmetry on a digital platform decided by the teacher (e.g., Google Classroom, a class WhatsApp group).

Activity 3 -  Game Design: Designing Symmetrical Characters

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop understanding of symmetry through the creation of characters for games, using digital tools to draw and present concepts of symmetry.

- Description: Students will act as game designers, creating characters that follow symmetry rules. Using online graphic design tools, they should draw characters that have clear and striking symmetries.

- Instructions:

• Divide students into groups of up to 5 people.

• Each group must discuss and plan a character for a game, focusing on the symmetry of the design.

• Students should use online graphic design tools (e.g., Canva, Pixlr, GIMP) to draw their characters.

• During the drawing, students should identify and mark the axes of symmetry used in the character design.

• Each group should create a brief presentation in slide or video format, explaining how they applied symmetry in the design of their characters.

• The designs and presentations must be shared on a digital platform decided by the teacher (e.g., Google Classroom, a class WhatsApp group).

Feedback

Duration: 15 - 20 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to allow students to reflect on what they learned, share their discoveries, and receive constructive feedback from peers. This will help consolidate the knowledge gained and promote a collaborative learning environment where everyone can learn from each other's experiences.

Group Discussion

Promote a group discussion where each group will share their experiences and conclusions from the activities performed. A possible script to introduce the discussion could be: 'Now that all groups have completed their activities, let's share what each one discovered. I want each group to talk a bit about what they learned about symmetry, how they used digital tools to identify and enhance symmetry, and any challenges they encountered along the way.'

Reflections

1. What did you find most interesting when exploring symmetries in different contexts? 2. How did digital tools help you better understand the concept of symmetry? 3. What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them during the activities?

360° Feedback

Conduct a 360° feedback stage where each student should receive feedback from the other members of the group. Guide students to offer constructive and respectful feedback, highlighting strengths and suggesting improvements. Start this stage by explaining: 'Now, each of you will receive feedback from your group mates. Remember to be respectful and try to highlight both strengths and suggestions for improvement. Let's use this opportunity for everyone to learn from each other's experiences.'

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

✍ Purpose: The purpose of this stage is to summarize and consolidate the key concepts learned about symmetry, showing its practical applications and relevance in the modern world. Additionally, it aims to connect theory with the real world, encouraging students to apply the knowledge acquired in their daily lives in a conscious and creative way.

Summary

 Fun Summary: Let's wrap up on a high note! Today, we dived into the fantastic world of symmetry! We discovered that symmetry is when something is equal on both sides of an axis – it is like a magic mirror! We saw this in nature, in buildings, and even in our favorite games. We explored symmetry axes, both vertical and horizontal, and learned about reflective symmetry. It was a true journey through the lenses of social media, constructions in Minecraft, and the creation of game characters. ✨

World Connection

 In Today's World: Symmetry is not just a boring mathematical concept. It is all around us all the time! From the perfect symmetry of a butterfly's wings, to the elegant design of modern buildings. Even on social media, where filters and photo edits often use symmetry to create amazing effects. Understanding symmetry helps us better appreciate the aesthetic, architectural, and natural world around us. 曆

Practical Application

️ Applications in Daily Life: Symmetry is super important in various fields. In art, it makes the works more harmonious; in architecture, it helps ensure the stability of structures; and even in technology, like in the design of user interfaces (UI) we use every day in our favorite apps. Understanding symmetry not only sharpens our critical eye but is also fundamental for creating and innovating in various areas. ️