This document discusses symbols and symmetry. It defines symmetry as a characteristic of a shape where reflection or rotation does not appear to change it. It explains that lines of symmetry divide a shape into mirror image halves and orders of rotational symmetry refer to how many times a shape can be rotated to look the same. The document provides examples of common symbols and their lines of symmetry and order of rotational symmetry. It then tasks the reader with creating their own symmetrical symbol on a grid.

1. Symbols and Symmetry

2. Learning Objectives Appreciate significance of symbols Know what symmetry is and recognise its beauty Be familiar with lines of symmetry and order of rotational symmetry Transform shapes on a grid to create symmetrical symbols

3. Starter There are several symbols displayed around the room Your challenge is to match the group names with the symbols on your worksheet

4. Task One Did you manage to match them up correctly? Your first task will now be to calculate how many lines of symmetry and what order of rotational symmetry each symbol has

5. Symmetry Symmetry is something which is all around us, especially in nature (click on link), and is considered an important aspect of beauty What does symmetry mean? Can you write your own definition? WORKING DEFINITION: symmetry is a characteristic of a figure or shape whereby reflection in a plane or rotation of the shape does not appear to change it

6. Lines of Symmetry A line of symmetry is a line that divides a figure into two halves that are mirror images of each other Shapes may have several lines of symmetry

7. Lines of Symmetry Tricks One good trick is to see how many different ways you can fold a shape in half A second trick is to use a mirror to see how many ways you can make the figure appear like the original Which letters of the alphabet are symmetrical?

8. Order of Rotational Symmetry What the heck is this all about? The rotational symmetry of an object is determined by how many times it can be rotated about its centre point and appear to be the same before returning to its original position Watch this animation to help you understand what we are talking about. The shape in the animation has rotational symmetry to the order of 4.

9. Task One Now that we know what lines of symmetry and order of rotational symmetry is all about we can return to our original task: How many lines of symmetry do our symbols have? What order of rotational symmetry do they have?

10. Results - Did you get the same? 0 0 Disabled Sign 4 0 Swastika 16 32 Gypsy Wheel 0 1 Watchtower 0 1 Trade Unions 0 1 Catholic Cross 6 6 Star of David Order of Rotation Symmetry Lines of Symmetry

11. Task 2 We have been looking at various existing symbols, but how about making our own symmetrical symbols? Make your own symmetrical symbol (related to suffering and survival) into a display TIP: Draw a cross on a blank sheet of paper or grid paper and use a mirror to make reflections of your shape in each of the 4 quadrants, or use tracing paper and rotate your shape about the origin

12. Example

13. Plenary In groups, write down 3 things that you have learnt this lesson Did we meet our learning objectives? Appreciate significance of symbols Know what symmetry is and recognise its beauty Be familiar with lines of symmetry and order of rotational symmetry Transform shapes on a grid to create symmetrical symbols