Radial Symmetry with 4th Grade

What is radial symmetry, how do we create radial symmetry, and how do we see radial symmetry in everyday life? These are some questions that 4th grade students have been exploring in art. They learned the difference between radial symmetry, symmetry, and asymmetry. They discussed where we see radial symmetry in nature and in objects from everyday life. Then students learned how to create their own radial symmetry by creating a step by step radial symmetry name design.

To dive deeper into our radial symmetry exploration, students then learned about how different cultures use radial symmetry for example how Native Americans made and used radial symmetrical dream catchers and how Buddhist Monks use radial symmetrical designs in their sand mandalas. After the more step by step name radial design project, students got more creative freedom to create their own radial symmetry design in the form of a radial symmetrical mandala or dreamcatcher. They got to choose the shapes, patterns, symbols, and objects that they repeated in their drawing to create radial symmetry. And they got to choose how they rendered their artwork, whether it be with paint, colored pencil, oil pastel, cut construction paper, or some even chose to use sand. Some of their beautiful creations can be seen below.