Note : This lesson was adapted from an activity submitted by Jeanne Fifer called Tinfoil Tumblers ( View for directions on how to make them ). I enjoyed and had more fun with this lesson than I have had with my students in a long time. The teachers in the school who happened in and the principal were in total awe and enjoyed watching the children doing the lesson almost as much as the children had doing it. From the children and myself, thank you Jeanne.
John Williams

Objective :
Students will find and imitate points of balance.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes.
Integration of curriculum.

Grade Level : K-5

Materials : 20 - 30 Tinfoil Tumblers and mats

Prerequisite : Some knowledge of points of balance, symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes.

Background : Approaching my art teacher who happened to be working on figurines and sculpting, I asked if she would be interested in combining our curriculum for a lesson I had in mind. My physical education classes had been working with points of balance.
I bought 3 rolls of tinfoil ( 75 yds total ). She and the fourth grade students tore the tinfoil into one foot sheets, made bases for the figures, and formed the tinfoil tumblers in the shapes we had discussed in physed and using the points of balance we had gone over. They also formed symmetrical and asymmetrical figures.

Set-up : 6 to 8 folding mats set up around the room, with the tinfoil tumblers set on the outside of the mats and the children on the inside.

Lesson : Have children sit at the edge of the mat facing the tinfoil tumblers. On your signal they are allowed to approach halfway on the mat to get a better view. They are not allowed to touch.
When the children think they can do the balance, they can try it. (view picture)
Walk around the room to monitor and help the children with their balances.
Ask questions of the children and their balances.
Examples:

• How many points of balance are you using ?
• What body parts are you using to balance with ?
• Are you symmetrical or asymmetrical ?

After you have walked around the room and viewed all of the students ask them to stop and get off of the mat. On your signal they all move down to the next figure. Repeat until the end of class.

Enjoy this lesson it's wonderful.

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