Kindergarten Art Lesson 28

Working with Symmetry, Butterfly Drawings

Objective:

The students will exhibit an understanding of symmetry by creating a symmetrical drawing of a butterfly.

Materials:

Markers, white paper and books or pictures of butterflies

Procedure:

Begin by introducing the word symmetry. Have the children repeat the word and guess if they know what it means. Explain that symmetry is a type of balance that means equal parts on both sides. Use your face as an example of symmetry. Have them draw an imaginary line down their face and ask, "Do you see the same things on each half of the face?" Explain that symmetry can be found everywhere in nature and that one of the most beautiful things we have to look at that has symmetrical balance is the butterfly. Encourage the children to look through books with pictures of butterflies and have them examine the details on each of the wings, pointing out lines, shapes and colors. Tell the class that we are going to make drawings of imaginary butterflies filled with lots of colors and shapes that are symmetrically balanced. Begin by having them draw a worm like shape down the center of their paper. Encourage them to draw large. Next put on two top wings that look as much alike as they can make them. Next, add the bottom wings. Now begin adding shapes and lines. Be sure that when you add a shape to the wing on one side that you also add that same shape in about the same place to the other side. Draw off all the shapes until you have created a coloring book type page for yourself. Finally, begin using your markers to color in the shapes. Make sure you use the same color on shapes that are in the same place on each side. Once the butterfly is completed, fill in the background with symmetrical colors and shapes. Make sure the whole page if filled.

Conclusion:

Have the children tell you what symmetrical means. Encourage them to think of as many examples of symmetry as they can from the things they know about in their world. Mount the drawings and hang them up for everyone to enjoy.

Artwork and Examples used in this lesson

Teachers Example