Patterns in Nature
A picture of my son exploring symetry with blocks and a reflective “mirror”
Materials:
Nature Journal, writing utensil of choice, a nature walk
Activity:
After a quick review or mini-lesson on symmetry have the kids go on a “symmetry hunt” in nature. Drawing their discoveries in their nature journal.
Younger:
Bring along a thin mirror and place it in the middle of the object the younger child suspects to be symmetrical. Have them look at the reflection of the side the mirror is facing. If the other side matches the reflection in the mirror it is symmetrical!
Older:
If the older children are already familiar with symmetry have them look up the Fibonacci sequence and golden ratio and go on a hunt for those patterns instead.
Take it Further:
Have a mini-lesson on patterns in nature. Seek out other sequences and patterns on your nature outing. The book “A beginner’s guide to constructing the universe” below is not a children’s book but is an excellent resource for mama’s scholé when diving deep into patterns found in nature. Check out the chapter on Fibbonochi then teach some of the concepts to your older kids when looking for patterns in nature and art then have them read this “autobiography” of Fibonacci- a living book about a boy who saw the world in a way that changed the way we saw it forever.
Click the image above for a Free fibonacci worksheet
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this beautiful printable about patterns in nature made by Twig and Moth on Etsy. Click the image above to get it in her shop and see the Fiboncci themed 2nd page. It is a great jumping off point for a mini lesson on patterns in nature.
There is also a beautiful lesson on symmetry in the butterfly unit or you can get the butterfly flip cards to find symmetry in butterfly wings.
22 butterfly and moth flip cards have the adult insect on one side and what they look like as a caterpillar on the other. Along with their host plant where they grow and metamorphose.
They are great as a portable field guide when you put a ring in the corner as all of the butterflies and moths are found in North America. We used ours to identify a caterpillar in the garden that turned into a tiger swallowtail!
They can also be used for memory and sorting games or inspiration when creating a butterfly garden. The deck also includes cards for the 4 stages in their life cycle, anatomy prints, and how to tell the difference between butterflies and moths.