Lesson 1: (A) Symmetry Grade Level: K-5 (Adaptable)

Suggested Time: 45-60 minutes
Overview
Students will learn about symmetry and other patterns found in the natural world, in objects, and in people. They will look at coins and bills of currency for examples of both symmetry and asymmetry, then practice making and designing (a) symmetrical objects on their own.
Vocabulary
Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards
Common Core Mathematical Standards
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
Homework from Previous Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: Reading Together (15 mins)
  1. Read What is Symmetry in Nature? with the students.
  2. Make it fun: read with energy and give the characters voices!
  3. Review key terms from the book. Have the students think of examples of asymmetry.
Part 2: Scouting for Symmetry (20 mins)
  1. Have students look at examples of currencies from around the world in What is Money? (Money Around the World.) Hint: there are usually examples of both symmetry and asymmetry in money!
  2. Next, pass around examples of U.S. currency. What patterns can the students observe in the money? What about the coins?
Part 3: Chain Doll Competition (25 mins)
  1. Separate the students into two teams: the symmetry and asymmetry team. You can either divide the class equally in half (as an example of symmetry, perhaps!) or allow students to pick which team they want to join (and see what kind of asymmetry shows up!).
  2. Pass out instructions for making chain dolls and do a demonstration for the class. Have students make chain dolls from plain paper and assist the teams and individual students as needed.
  3. Once the chain dolls are made, students should decorate them using the other craft materials, pens, paints, etc. The symmetry team members should make theirs as symmetrical as possible. The asymmetry team members should make theirs asymmetrical! There are many ways to do this: they can make their characters into cyclops, crazy fashionistas, etc. Encourage both teams to be as creative as possible.
  4. Have the students put the designs up for display on one of the classroom walls.

Lesson 2: Where’s George? Grade Level: K-6 (Adaptable)

Suggested Time: 45-60 minutes
Overview
This lesson concerns the way money gets around to many different people and places. Students will learn about how money travels, then explore the site “Where’s George?” which tracks the journeys of real dollar bills. Finally, in groups, students will compose stories or skits relating the travels of any currency of their choice (a dime, a nickel, a twenty dollar bill—whatever they like).
Vocabulary
Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards
Common Core Mathematical Standards
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
Homework from Previous Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: Money Travels (30 mins)
  1. Read The Go-Around Dollar with the students. Have fun with it and give voices to the characters.
  2. Have the students pass around a dollar among each other, exchanging it for marbles and other classroom items.
  3. Show the website “Where’s George?” and click on various bills that have been tracked on the website. Have the class imagine stories for these bills. What happened to them?
Part 2: Money Stories (30 mins)
  1. Separate the class into groups.
  2. Have each student come up with a story about the journey of a unit of currency. It can be any unit: a $50 bill, a quarter, a nickel or penny. They can either write the story and read it to the class, or do a skit for the class.