Symmetrical Name Monsters

PROCESS:

• Students write their name in block or bubble style letters, making sure that all of the letters are attached to one another and to the fold.
• Cut out the name around the perimeter of the letters. (Do not cut out each letter individually and do not cut out on the fold where the letter meets the fold) The students will then open up their name and it should be connected and symmetrical. Each student will glue his name onto a piece of colored or black construction. The name needs to be open.
• With a marker, oil pastels, or crayons students can draw eyes, arms, legs, or tails on the creature they have created with their symmetrical names.

I also tried this having students write their name in black oil pastels on the fold, then fold their paper so their name is on the inside of the paper and use a rubbing technique. (I just use small plastic glue spatulas I have in my class, but the back end of a drawing pencil will work as well.) I then have students open up their paper and magically their name will appear on the other side. Wowza’s Symmetry!!  I then tell them to look at their names vertical and can they picture it becoming a monster or an alien.  They all start to laugh at this point, because they start to see a nose, mouth,eyes,etc.  They then create their monsters/aliens, cut them out and glue onto black paper.  Lastly they design an outer-space background.  

I LOVE doing this lesson the first week of school as an introductory so I can learn their names.