Chapter VIII – Creating Symmetry
Creating Symmetry
Symmetry is one of the key concepts that supports the development of logical thinking, visual perception, and spatial orientation in children. A child who can notice and recreate a symmetrical arrangement of elements better understands the ideas of order, balance, and pattern, which are the foundations of mathematical and engineering thinking.
In this chapter, children learn what axial symmetry is by manipulating real objects such as gears, cylinders, platforms, and connectors from Korbo sets. The activities are based on play, construction, and experimentation. Children build mirror reflections, symmetrical towers, axis based arrangements, and patterns.
The tasks are designed so that children can:
recognize and create symmetrical arrangements,
develop hand–eye coordination,
improve visual analysis and spatial memory,
attempt independent planning of constructions.
Symmetry appears in the natural world (for example leaves, insects, faces), in art (patterns, decorations), and in technology (gears, machines). By working with construction blocks, children not only gain a better understanding of this phenomenon but, above all, experience it in practice by building, comparing, and correcting their own constructions. This is learning through action, which supports the development of mathematical thinking from an early age.
After completing the tasks and activities in this chapter, the child:
recognizes the phenomenon of symmetry in simple spatial and flat arrangements (for example buildings, patterns),
notices the axis of symmetry and can indicate its position (for example through the center of a structure or between two wings),
creates constructions symmetrical to a vertical or horizontal axis using Korbo elements,
reproduces mirror reflections of simple arrangements built with Korbo blocks (for example gears and cylinders in a specific layout),
selects elements in pairs (for example two identical gears on both sides of the axis) and places them symmetrically,
experiments with different forms of symmetry, both flat (on a platform) and spatial (building towers, bridges, figures),
maintains symmetry while building using color, size, and number of elements,
develops visual analysis and spatial orientation by manipulating elements on both sides of the axis,
attempts independent design of symmetrical arrangements using available materials,
understands that symmetry means “balance” between sides and can check whether a construction has been built correctly.
1. Block Mirror
Objective: Developing the ability to recreate block arrangements in a mirror reflection.
Required materials: Platforms (4 per child: two yellow and two green arranged in a square (2×2)), gears (various colors).
The teacher may distribute the platforms among pairs in advance, for example one pair receives 8 green platforms (two squares made of 4 platforms each), another pair receives 8 yellow platforms arranged in the same way.
Activity procedure:
Students place their platforms next to each other along one edge without connecting them. The space between them becomes the axis of symmetry. Then, taking turns, one child chooses a gear and places it on one of the platform pegs. The second child takes a gear of the same color and places it symmetrically in relation to the axis on their own platform. Next, the child who placed the gear second chooses a gear and places it on their platform, and the first child places a gear of the same color symmetrically.
Additional challenges:
The first child places three gears and then covers their part (for example with a sweater). The second child tries to recreate the symmetrical pattern from memory.
The teacher builds an arrangement on their own set of platforms, explaining that it represents, for example, the left side of the axis. Each child’s task is to build the right side. The teacher then places their part next to the children’s constructions and checks the correctness of the arrangement.
2. Symmetrical Butterfly
Objective: Building a symmetrical arrangement based on “wings.”
Required materials: Platforms as the body, gears, cylinders.
Activity procedure:
Children build “wings” on both sides of the platform (the body) using gears or cylinders (cylinders or gears are placed next to each other). The wings should be mirror images of each other.
Next, the children create a pattern on one wing and reproduce it along the axis on the other wing.
Additional challenges:
Butterfly in different colors – the mirror reflection must take into account both color and shape (for example a simple construction using a cross connector and four cylinders arranged in a cross or an X shape).
3. Block Face Reflection
Objective: Reinforcing the concept of the axis of symmetry by creating a face.
Required materials: Gears (eyes), cylinders (nose, ears), platforms (can be used as a base, or constructions can be built directly on the floor).
Activity procedure:
Children build a “face” – one eye, ear, and cheek are constructed by the teacher or one part of the students. The other part of the children reproduces the second side of the face symmetrically.
Additional challenges:
Change the position of the axis: create a face with a closed eye, a sad expression, or different colored eyes.
4. Bridge of Symmetry
Objective: Building a three-dimensional structure while maintaining symmetry.
Required materials: Cylinders, platforms, gears.
Activity procedure:
Children work in groups to arrange a line of platforms on the floor. This line represents a road, river, or chasm. Above and in front of this line, children build a bridge of symmetry – the number of cylinders, their color, and arrangement must all be symmetrical. The group’s task is to ensure the bridge is mirrored along the axis.
Additional challenges:
Add decorative elements on both sides of the bridge.
Build the bridge so that it can withstand the passage of a vehicle from each team.
5. Axis of Symmetry – Puzzle
Objective: Recognizing and creating symmetrical arrangements.
Required materials: Four platforms of the same color per child (green or yellow), gears and cylinders of various colors.
Activity procedure:
The child places blocks (gears and cylinders) on one side of the platforms (for example, on two platforms on the left / two on the right / two at the top / two at the bottom). Then, the child reproduces the arrangement on the opposite side, creating symmetry.
Additional challenges:
Instead of placing individual blocks, the child builds a small construction that they then have to recreate symmetrically on the other side.
6. Symmetrical Tower
Objective: Creating a vertical construction while maintaining axial symmetry.
Required materials: Cylinders, gears, platforms, straight connectors, and one cross connector.
Activity procedure:
Children build a tower where the center – the cross connector – serves as the axis of symmetry. Above and below the platform, they place an identical number of cylinders connected using straight connectors.
Additional challenges:
The tower can use different colors – the child must maintain symmetry with colors.
Cylinders can also be connected using cross connectors with additional side branches, which must also be symmetrical.
7. Even and Symmetrical
Objective: Combining the concept of symmetry with evenness.
Required materials: Gears and cylinders in even numbers, four platforms of the same color for each child.
Activity procedure:
The teacher establishes the axis of symmetry with the children (vertical or horizontal). Then, each child receives two of each element. Their task is to place them symmetrically along the axis on their platform.
8. Flower of Symmetry
Objective: Creating symmetrical patterns around a central point.
Required materials: Central platform, gears and cylinders as petals.
Activity procedure:
Children build a “flower” – the petals must be arranged evenly and symmetrically around the center. Change the colors of the petals – children analyze whether the symmetry is maintained.
Additional challenges:
Build multi-layered flowers.
9. Symmetrical Domino
Objective: Recognizing a pattern and reproducing it on the opposite side of the axis of symmetry.
Required materials: Four platforms per child (all the same color – either 4 yellow or 4 green), gears and cylinders.
Activity procedure:
The teacher connects four platforms into a square (2×2) and agrees with the children that everyone will build in the same way (for example, all pegs facing up and to the right). The teacher then arranges any pattern of gears and cylinders on the platforms. The children’s task, one by one, is to attach their own platform (4×4) and reproduce the pattern along the axis of symmetry (the connection between the previous and the new platform).
Platforms can be added from any side – to any already connected arrangement.
Additional challenges:
Compare which arrangements are identical.
Instead of individual gears and cylinders, the teacher can build a simple construction. Constructions can also be connected across individual platforms.