Symmetry Challenge

How many symmetric patterns can you make by shading whole squares in a 3 by 3 grid?

Where are the mirror lines (lines of symmetry)?

Which of your patterns also have rotational symmetry?

There are hundreds of patterns and here is just one. It has just one line of reflection symmetry and no rotational symmetry.

To reduce the task we look for different patterns and count patterns as the same if they are reflections or rotations of each other like this set of 4 patterns.

Can you find more than 60 different patterns?

For older learners the challenge is : can you plan and work systematically to consider all possible cases?

Click here for the SYMMETRY CHALLENGE Inclusion and Home Learning Guide.

Click here for the SYMMETRY CHALLENGE worksheet.

Click here for Notes for Teachers.

Click here for a poster