
783 original hands-on activities for kids (as well as a compiled archive of ideas from all over the web) with a strong focus on inquiry, design thinking, problem-solving skills, imaginative / creative thinking, nature, drama, learning with movement, music, arts integration and PLAY! - Creative Genius Kids! - for teachers and homeschoolers
Showing posts with label symmetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label symmetry. Show all posts
Friday, May 2, 2014
Monday, February 18, 2013
Kid Engineering
Design Squad Nation - Lots of hands on projects, and a great place for kids to collaborate with other students from around the country.
Featured above:
Treasure Grab - Kids investigate magnetism with this measuring construction project!
Indoor Slingshot - Angle Exploration and potential / kinetic energy! Kids measure the distance their object is propelled. What angle worked best?
Air Cannon - Estimate and measure, while exploring air pressure. Kids blow up a bag, smash it, and a pom pom ball goes flying!
WYE_Lance has a special showcase of kid engineering projects featured on Instructables: Project-Based Engineering.
Featured above:
Truss Bridges - Kids explore symmetry and angles as they create a unique popsicle stick structure.
Rubber Band Helicopter - How high will it go? How long will it stay up?
Sophie's World - Balloon Boat (top right image)
Kids investigate the power of air, as they estimate and measure the distance their boat floats!
Featured above:
Treasure Grab - Kids investigate magnetism with this measuring construction project!
Indoor Slingshot - Angle Exploration and potential / kinetic energy! Kids measure the distance their object is propelled. What angle worked best?
Air Cannon - Estimate and measure, while exploring air pressure. Kids blow up a bag, smash it, and a pom pom ball goes flying!
WYE_Lance has a special showcase of kid engineering projects featured on Instructables: Project-Based Engineering.
Featured above:
Truss Bridges - Kids explore symmetry and angles as they create a unique popsicle stick structure.
Rubber Band Helicopter - How high will it go? How long will it stay up?
Sophie's World - Balloon Boat (top right image)
Kids investigate the power of air, as they estimate and measure the distance their boat floats!
Labels:
air,
angles,
building,
engineering,
estimating,
magnetism,
math,
measuring,
motion,
physics,
potential/kinetic energy,
science,
spring / summer,
symmetry,
toys,
transportation
Monday, January 7, 2013
Paper People Chain Math
To construct an alternating paper people chain (right arm up, left arm up), draw a full figure on the top square of your accordion paper. Make sure the hands extend to touch the folds. For a regular paper people chain, you only need to draw half a person on the top square of your accordion.
Labels:
art,
fractions,
martin luther king,
math,
math / art,
multiplication,
patterning,
symmetry,
transformations
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Fraction Quilts
Optional: To get kids started, have them divide a square into eighths. Next, have them make 1/2 (or 4/8) of their quilt colored. Then, 2/8 (or 1/4) striped. After they have their initial design, let them decide what direction they would like their design to go. They could have 1/16 of their quilt polka dot or so forth. If you want to explore symmetry, then guide children to make the quilt equal on both sides.
To integrate technology, you could have students create their design in Illustrator. If you're working with older kids, let them completely design their quilt with little to no instruction.
Labels:
art,
fractions,
math,
math / art,
symmetry
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Koch Snowflake

Integrate art and geometry by constructing a Koch Snowflake. Students draw an equilateral triangle. Then, they keep adding smaller equilateral triangles to create a symmetrical snowflake. See this project in action here!
View a kid version over at 4 Kids 2 Guinea Pigs! - plus step by step instructions.
Visit Wonder How To: Math Craft to see how to construct a koch snowflake out of pennies!
Check out Hektor for 3-dimensional versions!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
What Can You Do With A Leaf?!
Leaf Surface Area - Practice non-standard measuring with leaves, great way to introduce the concept of area. Visit Kindergarten Lessons for more details and measuring ideas! PBS has a fun activity that integrates science and math. Kids shine a flashlight on a leaf and trace its shadow on grid paper to find the area of a leaf!
Leaf Symmetry - Check out the cool art project Beautiful Ideas did!
Science - Is a Green Leaf Really Green? Click here to find out! Also, check out Exploring Life Community's photosynthesis experiment!
Create a Leaf Skeleton - ehow
Descriptive Writing - "Meet My Leaf, " free printable from Scholastic
Leaf Descriptions - Set up a leaf station in your classroom. Kids work in pairs. One child describes a leaf. The other child has to find the correct leaf. This activity is a great way for kids to learn the importance of detail (adjectives) and comprehension (listening skills).
Leaf Hunt, Tally, Graph, Fractions - Classic activity that's always popular with young students. Go on a leaf hunt outside around the school yard. Have kids tally their leaves. Then, as a class, graph your findings! Afterwards, have kids write the fraction for each color found. Younger kids could also practice their patterning skills with colored leaves.
Labels:
area / perimeter,
autumn,
fractions,
geometry,
graphing,
natural,
nature,
patterning,
photosynthesis,
plants,
science,
symmetry,
tally,
transformations,
writing
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Catch a Raindrop!
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raindrops via alamy |
Are all raindrops the same size? NASA has an awesome hands on activity for a water cycle unit! On a rainy day, give kids a light colored piece of cardstock. Have them hold their cardstock out the window to collect a few drops. Then, tell them to trace around the drops with a colored pencil before their drops dry. Now, grab a ruler and measure your drops, take note of their shape. Are raindrops symmetrical? Are they all the same size? Compare your raindrop samples with your classmates. What was the smallest and largest measurement taken of a raindrop?
3D drops - Spread a thin layer of flour in a shallow pan and hold it outside for a few seconds to catch raindrop samples. The flour will create 3 dimensional drops. Carefully separate the lumps from the flour using a sieve. Have kids examine the shapes of the droplets.
Click here to download the raindrop unit from NASA!
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