3rd grade radial symmetry collage

Third grade students have been having fun creating radial symmetrical paper collages in art.  They each began with a 10" circle piece of paper and after watching demonstrations of how to create a radial symmetrical design, students began collaging. For this project, I tried to provide the students with the least about of direction as needed.  I have found with radial symmetry, less is more.  I had each students begin by cutting out a circle or square (any size or color) and glueing that in the middle of the large circle they are using for the background piece.  Next each students must cut out 8 rectangles (again, any size or color) and placed them around the center shape to cut the area into eight similar size areas.  They began by glueing the first two sticking straight up and down from the center shape.  The next two were glued on the sides, creating a plus sign image.  the other four were glued between those to create an X.  From there, students could cut out any color shapes and sizes and glue them down to create an eight-point radial design.

We spend 5 class periods on this.  The first two are very basic and goes slowly.  The students are learning how to cut out multiple pieces of the same shape/size and glue them down and students are really just understanding how to create a radial symmetrical design.   The last three classes are spent focusing on using shapes of many different sizes and how to use colors together to make interesting patterns and overlapping. I really push overlapping shapes the last class.

I love teaching this project, I find it amazing how complex and beautiful their designs turn out.  This is a project where every single student is successful and feels good about their artwork at the end.