Radial Symmetry in Art with Math, and Science

Mandala’s with Mrs. Hurd

Vocabulary & Q’s to define

during Power Point

1. Radial Symmetry

2. Balance

3. Asymmetrical Balance

4. Mirror/Bilateral Symmetry

5. Types of Man Made Balance

6. Types of Nature Balance

7. Congruent

8. Radius

9. Diameter

10. How many sections should your mandala have?

Radial Symmetry

Radial symmetry or balance is a type of balance

in which the parts of an object or picture are

regularly arranged

and radiate from a

central point. It

appears both in

natural and in

human-made

objects.

Three Types of Balance or Symmetry

Radial Symmetry is only one of three types of balance. The others are

Mirror or Bilateral Symmetry and Asymmetry.

Mirror or Bilateral Symmetry

Also called reflectional or line

symmetry, mirror or bilateral

symmetry is a type of balance in

which a center line, called the

line of symmetry, divides an

object in half so that one side

mirrors the other.

Asymmetrical BalanceIn art, asymmetrical balance is a form of

symmetry in which the two sides of a picture or

object are different but are visually balanced.

They are visually equal

without being identical.

Most modern art

is asymmetrical.

Starry Night

by Vincent Van Gogh

Radial symmetry is found in

both natural and human-made

objects.

Natural Objects

Human-Made Objects

Buddhist Sand Painting

Objects that have radial symmetry can

be divided into equal pieces like a pie.

Each equal piece of a pie

is also a congruent shape.

Congruent shapes are

exactly the same in size

and shape.

The radius of a circle is the distance from

the center of a circle to any point on the

circle. If you place two radii end-to-end in

a circle, you would have the same length

as one diameter. Thus, the diameter of a

circle is twice as long as the radius.

The Diameter starts at one side of the

circle, goes through the center and ends on

the other side. The Circumference is the

distance around the edge of the circle.

Snowflakes are natural examples of radial symmetry.

mendi

Radial symmetry designs may be round.

Or they may have a square frame.

Images

seen in a

kaleidoscope

have

radial

symmetry.

One type of human-made radial

symmetry is the mandala. A mandala is a

symbolic pattern, usually in the form of a

circle divided into four sections.

Mehndi are radial designs

painted on the hands for special

occasions in some countries.

Student Work

Student Work

Radial

symmetry

windows in

Medieval

cathedrals are

called Rose

Windows. This

one is in Notre

Dame

Cathedral

in Paris,

France.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

The front entrance to

Notre Dame has a rose window.

The largest rose window is

found on the side of the

Cathedral facing the river.

Look for the smaller one

above it. Do you see any

others?

Chartres Cathedral,

another Medieval

cathedral in France

Chartres Cathedral

Materials

Today:

Square drawing paper

Pencil & Eraser

Compass

Ruler

Later:

Colored Pencils

Black Ink pen & Sharpie

Markers

FEEL FREE TO

BRING IN YOUR OWN

•Do NOT trace over the guide lines with black

marker.....for you may want to erase some of them like

I did.

•Do EVERYTHING in pencil first LIGHTLY. These

lines are just guides that will help to provide you with

"Balance"- the basis of all mandalas.

•

The key is to start at the center and work your way

outward in a radiating manner. So if incorporating any

words or sayings.....it will read from the center out.

Tips before we get started…

1. Trace variety of circles on your square piece of “good” paper

2. Eye up where you think the CENTER of the smallest circle is...and place a dot.

3. Use a Ruler to draw a vertical line that goes from 12 o'clock...thru the center dot...and onto 6 o'clock like you see above.

Next, eye up where you think the 3 and 9 o'clock would be....and now draw a horizontal line thru the center.

5. Place a dot where you think the 1 and 2 o'clock will be....as well as the 10 and 11 o'clock. You do NOT need to place dots below the horizontal line. Match up your ruler with each of these marks, one at a time, being sure to intersect the center dot. This will give you an 8 section layout when you are done.

HOW TO COLOR WITH COLORED

PENCILS & MARKERS:

Lay down a base color with marker/highlighter

Using colored pencils, find the closed up areas

of your letters and in between them. Select at

least two colors of the same color family (light

and dark blue, light and dark green, yellow and

yellow orange....pink and purple)....color the

entire space with lightest color first, but do not

press too hard at first....just put some color

down...then around the edges, apply the darker

color...pressing harder at first, then lightening

the pressure toward the center.....then blend with

the lighter color pressing a little harder this time.

Learning outcome-

Geometry and spatial reasoning.

The student recognizes congruence

and symmetry.

The student is expected to:

(A) identify congruent shapes;

(B) create shapes with lines of

symmetry using concrete models and

technology; and

(C) identify lines of symmetry in

shapes.