Properties of Shape - Lines of Symmetry - Presentation

In an engaging and interactive presentation on the properties of shapes, Year 6 students are invited to explore the concept of symmetry, particularly focusing on lines of symmetry. The lesson encourages students to discuss and define what symmetry means, laying the foundation for a deeper understanding of symmetrical patterns in geometry. To reinforce this concept, students engage in hands-on activities that involve folding shapes to discover their lines of symmetry. They are prompted to articulate their understanding of symmetry and to sort various shapes based on the number of lines of symmetry they possess, as well as the number of sides each shape has. This classification activity is designed to help students visualise and differentiate between shapes with one line of symmetry and those with multiple lines.

Further activities challenge students to draw lines of symmetry on given shapes, with the option to use folding as a practical method to assist in their identification. Through this process, students are encouraged to observe and question whether lines of symmetry need to be vertical or if they can have different orientations. The lesson also includes reasoning tasks that require students to engage with misconceptions about symmetry, such as whether a triangle's lines of symmetry change with orientation or if a four-sided shape always has four lines of symmetry. Independent work consolidates learning as students sort shapes into a table based on their lines of symmetry and discuss real-life examples of symmetry, the impact of orientation on symmetrical properties, and the tools that can be used to find and identify lines of symmetry.