What it is: Deck Chairs is an interactive activity from iboard that allows students to explore pattern and symmetry. Students can create patterns with three different colors. Then, they can test out their pattern to find out if it is symmetrical.
How to integrate iboard: Deck Chairs into the classroom: Deck Chairs is a simple interactive activity that lets students explore pattern and symmetry. Deck Chairs was created for use with an interactive whiteboard but would be just as effective as a math center on classroom computers. For use with an interactive whiteboard, create a pattern on half of the deck chair. Invite students to the board to finish the pattern to make it symmetrical. Test out the pattern to find out if it is symmetrical. As a math center, send pairs of students to the classroom computers. One student will create the initial pattern. The second student will try to mirror the pattern to create a symmetrical design. I like the way that this activity checks students progress and gives immediate feedback. If the design is not symmetrical, the pair should try to solve the problem together.
Tips: iboard has a variety of activities for the interactive whiteboard that can be purchased. Deck Chairs is one of their freebie samples.
Leave a comment and share how you are using iboard: Deck Chairs in your classroom.
What a great way to visually define symmetry besides just folding a piece of paper! 🙂 I can always use ideas for better ways to teach and explain things in math. Thanks!