Symmetry Art and An Award!!

Whoohoo! It's Friday!! 

Okay so this week was the start of fourth quarter here in Hawaii. In the third grade we rotate classes for science, social studies, art, and health. This is so helpful when it comes to planning and grading (although after seeing such wonderful ideas on other blogs, it makes me want to teach all subjects to my kids!). Anyways..This quarter I'm teaching Art. I love to incorporate math into art! My kids worked on using pattern blocks to create pieces of art that had rotational symmetry.  Here are a few examples:

This took awhile though, because they needed to explore with the blocks then transfer it to a piece of paper by tracing, outlining, then coloring. 

SO I was in search of a simpler option. I then remembered a project I had done in high school and I got an idea for my art project. Playing off of the pattern block rotational symmetry, the students are going to be creating mandalas to show rotational symmetry. 

I used a circle template I made and cut them up into fourths (great fraction review with kids). Then guided the kids to draw designs on their 1/4 piece (not too detailed) They then need to outline both sides with a sharpie (thick sharpies work best). Once this is done, they get their own circle template that they must cut out neatly and carefully. Once this is done, they fold it into fourths. They must now use the 1/4 piece as a template and put it under their circle so that they can trace with pencil. Once done, FLIP the template over, place in the next space and trace. FLIP again, trace FLIP again and trace your final piece. When done it should look like this: (well these aren't the complete versions but works in progress)

I was hoping that we'd have time to finish today but we ran out of time :(

In other news, I got hit by two wonderful bloggers with an award!! 

Amy at The Crazy Adventures of a University Grad and Heather at Beg, Borrow, and Teach awarded me with The Lovely Blog Award!

 I want to thank these wonderful ladies for making my day!! I happened to check my blog at lunch and wanted you to know that you brought joy to my heart, I was so excited!! 

I only recently discovered Amy's blog and learned that she is working as a teacher on call!  Her blog posts are already great, and I can't imagine how lucky her future class will be. Amy, will you please come and be my on call teacher?! haha. 

Heather is a fellow third grade teacher :) I recently found her in the upper grades linky party! She is another amazing blogger who shares tons of great ideas and resources! 

If you aren't already following these two ladies..please rush on over and do so now :) 

Just as we expect our students to do, blog awards also have rules to follow:

1. Link back to the blogger who awarded you.

2. Follow the blogger who sent it to you.

3. Pass the award onto 15 other lovely bloggers.

Well, as all avid blog stalkers readers know, there are so many great blogs out there and this is a TOUGH job but here they are: 

1. Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

2. Dana at 3rd Grade Gridiron 

3. Christi at Ms. Fultz's Corner

4. Abby at Third Grade Bookworm

5.Courtney at Swimming INto Second

6. Hope at 2nd Grade Shenanigans

7. Melissa at Life's a Teach!

8. Heather at Heather's Heart 

9.Patti at A Series of 3rd Grade Events

10.Lorraine at Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies

11. Mrs. Tolbert at Daisy Days for Learning

12. Katherine at Third Grade Teacher Files

13 Meghan at Third Grade in the First State

14. Nicole at Teaching with Style!

15. Wendy at One Happy Teacher

Stop on over and start following these lovely ladies and their lovely blogs :D I'm off to cook some dinner...

Look forward to my garage sale finds tomorrow...I found a retired teacher who is selling her lot!! Can't wait!!