Ink Blot Prints that Demonstrate Bilateral Symmetry

In math, the younger kid gets frustrated with a lot of computation, which is fine (for now--the older kid also gets frustrated with a lot of computation, and yet I still require it of her, because apparently I'm meaner to older kids), so since she's long finished up any kindergarten math requirements that I had of her, we've been luxuriating in those kinds of hands-on, in-depth, sensorial math activities that internalize concepts, and that the kid absolutely loves.

For instance, it wasn't necessary to spend weeks on bilateral symmetry. And yet... bilateral symmetry is so fun! Here are some of our activities:

• cutting out and folding shapes to discover and test their lines of symmetry
• using graph paper to draw shapes that have bilateral symmetry, then cutting them out and folding them to test them
• putting ANYTHING up against a mirror to see it in symmetry
• taking a nature walk to collect leaves, then sorting them into groups of symmetrical and non-symmetrical, then folding them to test those theories, then drawing in the lines of symmetry using Sharpies
• painting on one side of a paper, then folding the paper and pressing it down, then unfolding it to look at your magical Rorschach-style print

By the way, these BioColor paints are the BEST at that last one!

This is just the kind of activity that my little kid likes. She made print after print after print, then extended it to finger painting (discovering for herself that printing doesn't work if the paint has had time to dry), then moved on to some very colorful handprinting, then added more and more and more paint and found that she loved the feeling and the look of painting through all the layers...

...and made a GIANT mess!

And yes, to her infinite credit, she cleaned it up completely independently, including washing off the paint bottles, scrubbing the table, and giving herself a bath. That makes the activity even MORE satisfying, don't you think?

For kids whose current special interest is bilateral symmetry, here are a few more fun activities for enrichment and exploration:

• cut an object or picture in half, glue to a piece of drawing paper, then recreate the other half of the drawing
• make Rorschach ink blots, then have fun creatively interpreting them
• set up these super simple popsicle stick symmetry puzzles for the youngest learners
• print free worksheets for kids who like that sort of thing!

And our course it wouldn't be a homeschool project without lots of books!

P.S. Want to follow along with my craft projects, books I'm reading, dog-walking mishaps, road trips, and other various adventures on the daily? Find me on my Craft Knife Facebook page!