Alphabet Symmetry

Jill McClain

Cuba Elementary

5th Grade Teacher

 

Objective

Students will be able to sort upper and lowercase letters according to symmetrical folds.

 

Connections

MA-E-2.1.4   Be able to apply knowledge of symmetry.

MA-E-2.3.4   Understand how lines of symmetry relate to shapes.

 

Resources

·        All upper and lowercase dye-cut letters

·        1 sheet of butcher paper having 4 columns

·        Tape

·        Dye-cut letters for school name, district name, state, and country

·        4 sheets of butcher paper for Venn diagrams

·        Markers

·        Glue

 

Procedures

1.       Have students share their prior knowledge of symmetry.

2.     Students identify objects in the classroom that have symmetry.

Activity 1

3.     Demonstrate how the uppercase letter “D” has horizontal symmetry.

4.     Create a column on the butcher paper titled, “Horizontal” and tape “D” there.

5.     Repeat steps 3 and 4 for vertical symmetry (A), both horizontal and vertical symmetry (O), and no symmetry (F).

6.     Divide students into 4 groups and give each group random upper and lowercase letters.  Each group must decide to which column their letters belong.

7.     Groups take turns sharing their findings and taping the letters to the appropriate columns.

8.     Identify any misunderstandings before completing next activity.

Activity 2

9.     Each group is given letters (Group 1-school name, Group 2-District name, Group 3-state, and Group 4-country) and butcher paper.

10.  Students construct a Venn Diagram on butcher paper.  One circle for horizontal symmetry and the other circle for vertical symmetry.  The overlapping section is for both horizontal and vertical symmetry and outside the circles is no symmetry.

11.   Students share completed Venn diagrams and display in classroom or hallway.

 

Formative Assessment:

·        Teacher checks for understanding as students complete Activity #1.  Each letter should be in appropriate column.

·        Teacher assesses student understanding as students share their Venn diagram in Activity #2.  Each letter should be in correct space.

 

Summative Assessment:

·        Students complete open-response question provided, and teacher evaluates using scoring guide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alphabet Symmetry

 

Use the alphabet shown below to answer the open-response question.

 

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

 

a.      Copy THREE letters above that have ONLY ONE line of symmetry.  Draw a dotted line to show the line of symmetry for each letter.

 

b.     Copy THREE letters that are NOT symmetrical.

 

c.      Copy ONE letter that has at least TWO lines of symmetry.  Draw dotted lines to show the lines of symmetry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alphabet Symmetry Scoring Guide

 

Use the alphabet shown below to answer the open-response question.

 

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

 

d.      Copy THREE letters above that have ONLY ONE line of symmetry.  Draw a dotted line to show the line of symmetry for each letter.

 

e.      Copy THREE letters that are NOT symmetrical.

 

f.      Copy ONE letter that has at least TWO lines of symmetry.  Draw dotted lines to show the lines of symmetry.

 

Score

Description

4

Student earns 12 points.

3

Student earns 8-11 points.

2

Student earns 4-7 points.

1

Student earns 1-3 points.

0

Response is totally incorrect or irrelevant.

Blank

No response.

 

Part a:       1-3 points          Correct letters (A,B,C,D,E,M,T,U,V,W,Y)

 

                    1-3 points          Correct line of symmetry

                                       Horizontal (B,C,D,E)

                                                Vertical (A,M,T,U,V,W,Y)

 

Part b:       1-3 points          Correct letters (F,G,J,K,L,N,P,Q,R,S,Z)

 

Part c:       1 point          Correct letters (H,I,O,X)

 

                        1-2 points          Correct lines of symmetry

(Both horizontal and vertical)