Symmetry

Symmetry
By OpenSciEd Writers
 OpenSciEd Writing Team for this book:
● Audrey Mohan - Writer
● Amanda Dahl - Editor
● Tanya Wright - Editor
● Kate Chambers - Graphic Designer

Unit 3.1 Symmetry. OpenSciEd. CC-BY-NC 4.0

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Many things in our world look the same on both
sides. When shapes are the same on both sides
of the center, we call it symmetry. Can you think
of examples of things that have symmetry?

1
Symmetry is everywhere. Look for patterns in
size, shape, color, or position that are the same
on both sides of the center. What kind of
symmetry do you see in these pictures?

Roof Snowflake

Bridge Metro Rail Station

2
Humans enjoy looking at symmetrical objects.
Finding order and patterns helps humans make
sense of the world.

3
 Carl Abuid

Even babies as young as 4 months old like to

play with objects that are symmetrical. Do you
like objects that are symmetrical?
4
Symmetry can be seen in the natural world. Look
at the patterns on the inside of a sunflower, a
peacock, or a beehive to find symmetry.

5
People from
many cultures
create
symmetrical
objects.

Indigenous
people in
the Navajo
Nation
create
symmetrical
fabrics and
rugs.

6
The Taj Mahal is a building in India that is
famous for its perfectly symmetrical architecture.

7
Many cultures use symmetry in their art. Symmetry
in art is used to give the audience a feeling that
the art is organized or stable.

8
Artists also use symmetry when they paint,
build sculptures, or take photographs. What do
you notice about this art that makes it
symmetrical?

9
Look at this balance sculpture. Is it symmetrical?

Did you build something like this? How were your

sculptures symmetrical?
10
Other artists like to make art with asymmetry,
or art that is different shape on each side of a
center. Look at the picture below. Can you see
asymmetry in the rock sculpture?

11
 Asymmetry is used to be playful in art and give
the audience a feeling of being puzzled or
surprised.

Corridor Pin by Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg. Photo by Ali Eminov. CC BY-NC 2.0

12
 Alison Bremner is an artist of the Tlingit
(kling-kit) people of Alaska. She makes
symmetrical and asymmetrical art. Can you find
the symmetry and asymmetry in her work?

Cat Lady and Metamorphosis by Alison Bremner.

13
 What kinds of
symmetry and
asymmetry will you
notice in the world
around you?

Scholastic, Inc.
Image credits, clockwise from upper left
Cover and Page 1: Alfred Schrock
Page 2: Jan van der Wolf; Egor Kamelev; Suman Chakrabarti
Page 3: Tommy Milanese; Shyamli Kashyap; Aaron Burden
Page 4: Karl Abuid
Page 5: Max Andrey; Naushil Skyhawk.Asia; David Hablützel
Page 6: Ruth Hartnup; Navajo blanket, Brooklyn Museum
Page 7: Sudipta Mondal
Page 8: Steve Pancrate; Islamic art; Mitchell Luo
Page 9: Anja (right photo)
Page 11: Travis Williams
Page 12: Corridor Pin by Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg. Photo by Ali Eminov. CC BY-NC 2.0
Page 13: Cat Lady and Metamorphosis by Alison Bremner.
Page 14: Scholastic, Inc.

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Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) by OpenSciEd or by their respective owners, or they are in the
public domain.
Lesson 2 Prompts to Use
Page 1
● Can you think of other examples of something that
has symmetry?

Page 2
● What kind of symmetry do you see in these pictures?

Page 4
● Do you like objects that are symmetrical?

Pages 4-8
● What symmetry do you notice in ___ photo?
Lesson 2 Prompts to Use
Page 9
● What do you notice about this art that makes it
symmetrical?
● Optional: Have you ever drawn any art in art class
that is symmetrical?

Page 10
● Did you build something like this?
● How were your sculptures symmetrical?

Page 11
● Can you see the asymmetry in the rock sculpture?

Page 13
● Can you see the symmetry and asymmetry in her
work?
Lesson 2 Prompts to Use
Page 14
● What kinds of symmetry and asymmetry will you
notice in the world around you?
Unit 3.1 • How can we design objects to balance and move in
different ways?

Symmetry