Sketching the Etching

All the designs shown on this page have reflection symmetry. A mirror can be used to fill in the missing scratches provided that the lines of symmetry are established.
For example, the flower design has three lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry of order six. This means it turns onto itself six times in a full turn.

If students place a mirror on any given line of symmetry and look at half the design, its image will confirm what the complete design should look like. Alternatively, a tracing of the shape can be folded in half along the mirror line and the doubled-over paper held up to a window for tracing. In a similar way, students can create a design with mirror symmetry. For example:

Answers to Activities

1.

2. Answers will vary.