After the Bell: It’s all in the pattern—Recognizing symmetry in architecture

by: Stephen J. Farenga and Daniel Ness

As teachers, we try to make subjects applicable to students’ lives. A topic that extends well beyond the classroom and any single discipline is the physical properties of symmetry found in architecture. Few curriculum programs, however, have implemented a detailed study of symmetry for students to develop geometric thinking before middle school. To increase students’ understanding of a topic such as symmetry, it is important to integrate the topic across different subjects and contexts. Likewise, it is important to examine the nature of students’ symmetric thinking with regard to their everyday knowledge. One way to build a solid foundation of symmetric thinking in your students is to incorporate the activities described in this article. The study of symmetry can provide a bridge to unify science, mathematics, humanities, and the arts.

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Type Journal ArticlePub Date 4/1/2007Stock # ss07_030_08_70Volume 030Issue 08

NSTA Press produces classroom-ready activities, hands-on approaches to inquiry, relevant professional development, the latest scientific education news and research, assessment and standards-based instruction.

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