Symmetry and pattern with mirrors
Art & Design · Key Stage 1 · The School
What symmetrical really means
A symmetrical picture has a line down the middle. One side is an exact mirror image of the other. Fold it along that line and the two halves match perfectly. That is the actual test, not just looking balanced.
Checking with a real mirror
Draw half a shape up to a straight line. Stand a small mirror upright on that line. Look into the mirror. It shows you the missing half, reflected. If it looks like a whole, sensible shape, your half is symmetrical.
Blot painting: the fold does the work
Fold a piece of paper in half, then open it flat again. Blob paint on only one side of the fold line. Fold the paper shut. Press it. Open it again. The paint has pressed a mirror image of itself onto the empty side.
Making a symmetrical butterfly
Fold paper in half to make a crease down the middle, then open it flat. On just one side, paint half a butterfly body and one big splodgy wing shape, right up against the crease. Fold the paper shut along the crease and press firmly all over. Open it up. A complete, symmetrical butterfly appears, both wings matching exactly, because the fold copied your paint across the line automatically.
Symmetry beyond butterflies
Look for symmetry in real things. A moth's wings, roughly. A leaf, roughly. Many buildings, exactly. A butterfly, exactly. Once you know the fold test, you can check any picture or object, not just the ones you made yourself. Try it at home today.