Helping Children be Happy Artists

Similarities And Symmetry Help Artists

Objects in nature have two similar sides when a line is drawn down the middle so the sides cover each other when folded in half. That is one kind of symmetry.  It is sometimes difficult and frustrating for children to draw those two sides free hand to their satisfaction. One side is fatter or skinnier than the other and after a lot of erasing they are left with a paper whole and tears.

  Adults can help by teaching children a few tricks with one of the most joyful symmetrical shapes -- the heart. Fold a piece of paper exactly in half and crease it. Draw half a heart on the creased side of a paper so when they cut along the lines and open up the fold they will have a perfectly symmetrical heart. Children can use rounded nose scissors for safety. They can practice making fat, skinny, and little hearts to glue on cards, a string mobile, or trace onto a picture.

More symmetry

 To make shamrocks you can follow the above procedure by drawing half a shamrock on a creased paper. However, there is another way. If you look at a shamrock you will notice it is really three identical hearts strategically placed on a chunky rectangle. Again show children how to make three hearts with the symmetry – fold method. Then cut out one chunky rectangle and glue on the hearts. 

Folding Helps Hand-Eye Coordination

   Butterflies, other animals, space ships, crosses, and humans are symmetrical when observed from a certain angle. People can be drawn this symmetrical fold way by drawing half a person on a creased paper, cutting it out, and tracing the person on a picture. Snowflakes, however, are six sided and cannot be made from a simple folded square or rectangle.

  The folding technique may help until their eye- hand coordination matures and objects turn out closer to the way they imagine—symmetrical. You have helped children get over a little developmental drawing bump..

Emberley Rescues

  Another suggestion, for a basic generic symmetrical human: draw an oval face, a little square neck, and a rectangle or trapezoid body. Draw four long rectangles for arms and

legs, a left shoe oval slightly turned left and right shoe as a smaller oval shoe front. The hands have thumbs slightly pointed away from the fingers next to the legs while fingers tightly fit together.

Try a Step-By-Step Approach

Ed Emberley has more step by step drawing ideas in his books. He shows how to make people look like they are moving, too. Children can also experiment making the limbs bend by studying their action figures.

   If your children are not frustrated or they don’t want to improve at this time let them be. Art should be joyful. For more ideas see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com, wnmufm.org/ Learning Through the Seasons, Pinterest, and Facebook.

PHotos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Kids Love Learning Summer Symmetry

Leaves, flowers, bugs...look for symmetry

Insects and other bugs are all around us in summertime. Most children are fascinated with bugs and what they look like. This is an opportunity to make some funny looking bugs while talking about symmetry which means both sides are built exactly the same. You’ll need several eyedroppers, or straws to us as a pipette, colors of paint, markers, and sheets of paper. To make a pipette straw, dip a drinking straw in a liquid with your finger pressed tightly over the top hole. Take your finger off the top when you wish to empty the straw.

Making Symmetry

  First help your children fold a paper exactly in half. Open the paper and let them use eyedroppers to drop several colors of paint onto the center of the crease. With help, young children can fold the paper over the paint. Now they can rub gently over the paper to blend the colors. Open the paper. Talk about the “blobby” shape that has appeared. Point out that what is on one side of the fold is also on the other side of the fold. Explain that this is symmetry.

  Nature is full of symmetry.  While the paint is drying, look for symmetry in leaves, flowers, bugs, and other objects in your own back yard. You can talk about what makes a bug an insect.  Discuss what an insect does with its antennae, wings and six legs.

  Once the paint is dry, encourage your children to use markers to add the antennae, wings, eyes and legs.  

Insects and Bugs are Everywhere in the Summer!

Together you’ve created a new bug so it needs a new name.  Help your children write the new name under the picture and then hang the picture where everyone can enjoy it!

Study Summer Bugs

 Use a magnifying glass and study some bugs you find. Talk about what makes them the same and different. Together see how many different bugs you can find. Help our children make a list of these bugs. Together discover the scientific name for a person who studies bugs. Visit the library to pick out some interesting books about bugs and enjoy them together. Use the computer and visit the National Geographic site to investigate more about bugs.

  Understanding symmetry helps children look very carefully 

Find Symmetry Everywhere in Nature!

at objects. You can also use the same technique to make more symmetries and use imagination to discover what else 

children see once the paper is unfolded. Children can use markers to add details to the picture. Together draw half a shape on the folded paper and then cut out shapes so that one side is the same as the other side. Talk about the characteristics of each shape. For more summer fun and learning see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com also wnmufm.org Learning Through the Seasons live and pod casts, Facebook, Pinterest, and You Tube.

Photos: Fran Darling, fdarling fotos

Finding Symmetry in Nature

Symmetry Is All Around Us

Symmetry is all around us in summertime. Children are fascinated with insects, flowers and other natural objects that are symmetrical.  This is an opportunity to talk about some math concepts and make beautiful symmetrical objects in nature.

  There are two main types of symmetry: rotational and reflection. When children point the top or bottom of pine cones at their nose they can see that both sides of the swirl or rotation are the same.  If children look at a butterfly and cover one half going north and south, they will see both sides are the same (reflection). If they place a little mirror down the center (going north and south) they will see the reflection is exactly like the other half.

Collect Nature

  When families go on car trips or hikes they can collect symmetrical clam shells, leaves, flowers, rocks, insects, or take close up pictures of them.

Two Main Types of Symmetry

Point out to children that their bodies and shadows are symmetrical, too. Is their house symmetrical? Look at family pets. When they are observed at certain angles are they symmetrical? 

 This easy art project is another way to play with symmetry. Gather some drinking straws to use as eye droppers for colors of poster paint, markers, sheets of paper, small stones, or art jewels.

  Help children fold a paper in half either the long way or short way. Open the paper and drop several colors of paint from the straw “eye droppers” onto one half of the paper next to the fold line. Children can now fold the paper over the paint. Rub gently over the paper to blend the colors. Open the paper and talk about the “blobby” shape that has appeared. Point out that what is on one side of the fold is also on the other side of the fold. Look for the symmetry.

Symmetry Search

  While the paint is drying, search for symmetry in leaves, flowers, pine cones, insects, and other objects in your own back yard. Children often enjoy taking 

 Close-Ups of Insects on Flowers

close up pictures of colorful insects on bright flowers that are also symmetrical. Use a magnifying glass and study some insects or spiders you find. Talk about what makes them spiders and insects the same and different.

  Once the paint is dry children can use markers to add antennae, wings, eyes and legs. To make the new insect even more beautiful children may want glue on craft jewels. They can name the new insect and put it on display.

  Some books about symmetry include: “What is Symmetry in Nature?” by Bobbie Kalman and “Is it Symmetrical?” by Nancy Allen. 

Photos: Fran Darling - fdarling fotos

  For more science and math STEM adventures go to -  grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live Tuesdays at 4:30pm and Saturdays at 8:30 am and pod casts archived on the site.