4th Grade: Week 1 of our Digital lesson

Our printmaking project we were just beginning, with our city skylines, has symmetrical properties. To further engage with the ideas of symmetry check out our project below!

Quick quiz! Can you tell where the axis of symmetry is? Where could you draw a line to split this image into two equal halves. That line is your axis of symmetry!

Creating with Symmetry

Most artworks that we say use asymmetry, which basically means not symmetrical. With an asymmetrical piece an artist has to work harder to create balance in their artwork. Symmetrical pieces are easy to balance because of the repetition that you find these images.

What does it mean if something is symmetrical? Symmetry is the quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis. We will be exploring one of the simplest types of symmetry, reflection. This is also known as mirror symmetry.

Getting Started

Grab a piece of paper and lets get started! Take your sheet of paper and fold if hot dog style. You can leave it folded for this next part. Keep the fold facing towards you, so it is the bottom of the paper. Now this is the tricky part, you have to try and write your name in cursive. (If you've done this before, you can use your last name or pick a word that has some meaning to you)

We want all the letters to connect so don't capitalize the first letter of your name. If you haven't practiced cursive before or you struggle with it a bit no worries. Practice on a scrap sheet of paper using the guide above. If you need additional practice, click on the files tab at the top of the page and find the practice sheet in the 4th grade folder.

The key is to write big! You want your name to stretch all the way from the left to the right side of your paper. Don't worry about it if your letters float and don't touch the fold.

Look back at the image at the top. The one on the left, using Kathleen, stays really close the fold. How does that change the final image? Which do you like more? Check out the folded examples below to see how they started. If you want to see me demonstrate this process, click on the image below and watch the video!

Creating your symmetry

When you finish writing your name make sure you trace it with something dark. A sharpie always works well, but you can use a dark marker or pen if you don't have a sharpie.

Once, you traced it once keep your paper folded! Simply flip it over and trace the lines that you can see through the paper. If you're having trouble seeing it, take your paper and put it up against the window. You'll be able to see your lines much better and should have no problem tracing it!

Find a safe spot

We'll keep working on these next week, so keep it somewhere safe so your paper doesn't get wrinkled, ruined, or thrown out! We'll be taking a look at some creatures and monsters throughout history before finalizing our design.