Progression in Learning about
2D Reflective Symmetry
(NNS recommendations)
Reception
In reception, the focus will be on talking about, recognising and recreating
simple symmetric patterns from different cultures and the environment.
Look at my
butterfly pattern!
I like the symmetrical patterns
in this wrapping paper.
Year 1
In Year 1 children will fold shapes in half and make them into symmetrical
patterns.
Look I’ve made a
symmetrical pattern by
cutting out shapes from
my folded paper!
Year 2
In Year 2 children do further work on folding. They also learn to identify shapes
with one line of symmetry. They are asked to complete the ‘other half’ of a
symmetrical shape or pattern.
Make a symmetrical
pattern by completing the
other half of this pattern.
Year 3
In Year 3 children are asked to identify more than one line of symmetry. They also
sketch the reflection of simple shapes using a mirror as an aid.
Complete this butterfly.
Year 4
In Year 4 children start to classify 2D shapes according to the number of lines of
symmetry they have. They learn that any point in the original and its
corresponding point in the image are the same perpendicular distance from the
line of symmetry.
B B
A
A
D
All these regular shapes
have a least three lines of
symmetry!
C
C
D
A, B, C and D and are the
same perpendicular distance
from the mirror line in both
shapes!
Year 5
In Year 5 children sketch the reflection of shapes where not all, but at least one, of
the edges are parallel or perpendicular to the line of symmetry. They also complete
patterns where there are 2 lines of symmetry perpendicular to each other.
C
A
A
B
B
Line AB is parallel to the line of
symmetry. Line BC is
perpendicular to the line of
symmetry. Line AC is not
perpendicular or parallel to the
line of symmetry.
C
A, B, C and are the same perpendicular distance
from the mirror line in both triangles!
Year 6
In Year 6 children sketch the reflection of shapes which touch the line of
symmetry at one point but where none of the edges of the shape are parallel or
perpendicular to the lines of symmetry. They also sketch the reflection of shapes
where there are two lines of symmetry perpendicular to one another.
Draw the reflection
of this shape.
Draw the reflection
of this shape.