Lesson Plan: Symmetry In Paper Airplanes
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2Lesson Plan: Symmetry in Paper Airplanes
Grade Level:
5
Subject Area:
Science and Math
Time Required:
Preparation: 15 minutes
Activity: 2 hours
National Standards
Correlation:
Science (grades 5-8)
•
Science as Inquiry Standard: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
•
Unifying Concepts and Processes Standard: Change, constancy, measurement.
•
Unifying Concepts and Processes Standard: Evidence, models and explanation.
Math (grades 3-5)
•
Geometry Standard: Use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to
solve problems.
•
Geometry Standard: Apply transformations and use symmetry to analyze mathematical
situations.
•
Measurement Standard: Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine
measurements.
Summary:
Students will design paper airplanes with middle line symmetry. The paper airplanes will not
have any curved lines. They must have right, obtuse and acute angles. After the planes are
designed, each designer will measure the angles. Students will exchange their paper airplanes
with other students, and continue to practice measuring angles.
Objectives:
Student will:
•
Learn how to use line symmetry
•
Identify right, obtuse and acute angles
•
Use a protractor to measure angles
Background:
Symmetry is defined as “beauty of form that arises from harmony of proportion.” In other words,
symmetry is a balance that is achieved through size, shape, position and even coloring of different
parts on opposite sides of a middle line. Symmetry has always played an important part in history
and in art. It was very important in the architecture of ancient Greece and the Italian Renaissance.
Materials:
You will need:
•
White drawing paper
•
Protractor
•
Colored pencils
Procedure:
A. Warm-up
Using white drawing paper, have students make a paper airplane, using any method of their
choice. Designate one area of the room as a runway. Test fly the airplanes.
Originally published as part of Project SOAR™: Science in Ohio through Aerospace Resources, Volume I-III.
1
Dayton, Ohio: The National Museum of the United States Air Force and The Air Force Museum Foundation,
Inc. 1997-1999.
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Related Categories
Parent category: Education