Holiday Symmetry

It's almost time for the holiday break.  During this time of year, I like to have some fun, holiday-related lessons.  2nd and 5th grade students have been making nutcrackers.  Grade 2 has a symmetrical template to trace and create their nutcrackers.  Fifth grade has a more challenging lesson.  They fold a 12"X18" paper in half and draw half of a nutcracker.  We review symmetry as I draw a sample.  Once all the symmetrical parts of the nutcracker are drawn, students open the paper and fold the nutcracker inside.  They rub on the paper with a pencil to transfer the nutcracker to the other side.  It's magic!  Here are a few samples of works in progress.  We will be finishing them this week.  I can't wait to see them in color!

This is what the transfer looks like at first.  Then the student draws over the light pencil marks.

This is the same paper as above, folded in half.  Here, you can see how the student transferred the image.

Ben Franklin!