
Fearful Symmetry is the Cub Scout Nova Award for investigating the properties of symmetry.
The Tyger By William Blake
“Tyger Tyger, burning bright,In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?”
This module is designed to help you explore how symmetry affects your life each day.
To earn the Fearful Symmetry Nova award, Scouts must complete one of their adventure related to patterns and symmetry. They explore how symmetry is found in art and nature.
The Fearful Symmetry Nova award can be earned by young men and women who are members of Cub Scouts
Fearful Symmetry Answers and Helps
Fearful Symmetry Requirement 1: Watch, Read, or Both
Fearful Symmetry Requirement 2: Cub Scout Adventure or Investigation
Fearful Symmetry Requirement 3: Symmetry in Folk Art
Fearful Symmetry Cub Scout Nova Award for Mathematics Requirement 1: Watch, Read, or Both
A. Watch an episode or episodes (about one hour total) of a show that involves symmetry, mirrors, or artistic patterns. Then do the following:
A-1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you watched.
A-2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
B. Read (about one hour total) about anything that involves symmetry, mirrors, or artistic patterns. Then do the following:
B-1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read.
B-2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
C. Do a combination of reading and watching (about one hour total) about anything that involves symmetry, mirrors, or artistic patterns. Then do the following:
C-1. Make a list of at least two questions or ideas from what you read and watched.
C-2. Discuss two of the questions or ideas with your counselor.
Video Suggestions
Fearful Symmetry Cub Scout Nova Award for Mathematics Requirement 2: Cub Scout Adventure or Investigation
Complete ONE adventure from the following list, or complete option A or B. (If you choose an adventure, choose one that you have not previously earned.) Discuss with your counselor what kind of science, technology, engineering, or math was used in the adventure.
Wolf Cub Scouts: Air of the Wolf or Code of the Wolf
Bear Cub Scouts: Forensics or Marble Madness
Webelos Scouts: Art Explosion or Build It
Option A: Complete all of the following:
(a) Explain the difference between the symmetry of the flower of a geranium and the symmetry of the flower of herbaceous periwinkle.
(b) Explain the difference in leaf arrangement (the pattern of where leaves appear on the stem) between a maple tree and a sweetgum tree.
(c) Find another pair of plants that you can distinguish based on some difference in symmetry.
Option B: Complete all of the following:
(a) Using toothpicks and colored marshmallows, or other appropriate materials, make a model of the crystal structure of olivine. (b) Using toothpicks and colored marshmallows, or other appropriate materials, make a model of the crystal structure of halite.
(c) Use your models to guess which of the two minerals is harder.
Symmetry in Plants: Background Information for Fearful Symmetry Option 2A
Helps and Requirements for Cub Scout Adventures for Fearful Symmetry

Air of the Wolf Adventure
For this adventure, Wolves learn about activities which can be done using air – paper airplanes, balloons, music, kites, and more.

Code of the Wolf Adventure
Wolf Cub Scouts learn about numbers, measuring, shapes, and math for the Code of the Wolf adventure. They also get to try sending a message using code

Bear Forensics Adventure
Bear Cub Scouts learn about law enforcement methods which are used to solve crimes. Bears will learn how to fingerprint. They also explore chromatography, analysis, and other crime-solving techniques.

Bear Marble Madness Adventure
Bears learn all about marbles and play a variety of games with them, from ringer to marble mazes.

Webelos/AOL Art Explosion Adventure
Art Explosion is one of the Webelos/Arrow of Light elective adventures. For the Art Explosion adventure, Webelos learn about all types of art – drawing, painting, sculpture, origami, digital art, graphic design, photography, comics, and more.

Webelos/AOL Build It Adventure
Webelos learn about using tools safely and carpentry. Then they use what they have learned to build a project.
Fearful Symmetry Cub Scout Nova Award for Mathematics Requirement 3: Symmetry in Folk Art
Choose TWO options from A or B or C or D or E , and complete ALL the requirements for the options you choose.
A. Make a paper lantern.
A-1. Fold a large piece of paper in quarters lengthwise.
A-2. Cut decorative or symbolic shapes into the two folded edges.
A-3. Unfold, tape the two edges of the paper together, and smooth into a cylinder. Hang by a string.
B. Learn about the kolam artwork of southern India.
B-1. Look at some pictures of kolams. Find as many similarities as possible within each kolam. Is there a repeated pattern? If you turn it a little, do you get the same picture? If you look at it in a mirror, do you get the same picture?
B-2. Use sand, chalk dust, flour, or some other material to make a kolam of your own.
C. Learn about the litema wall decorations from Lesotho and South Africa.
C-1. Look at some pictures of litema. What does one basic tile look like? In how many ways can you see that tile arranged (turned a different direction, flipped backward, etc.)
C-2. Use clay, paper, or some other material to make a litema of your own.
D. Learn about the design of Navajo rugs.
D-1. Look at some pictures of Navajo rugs. Find as many similarities as possible within each rug. Is there a repeated pattern? Is there a mirror image? How many?
D-2. Using different colors of paper, or other materials, make your own Navajo-like rug.
E. Learn about Seminole or Miccosukee patchwork designs.
E-1. Look at some pictures of Seminole or Miccosukee patchwork. Find as many similarities as possible within each piece. What does a basic block of each pattern look like? How many different basic blocks are used in the design?
E-2. Using different colors of paper, or other materials, make your own Seminole-like patchwork.
Kolams: Background Information for Fearful Symmetry Option 3B









Navajo Rugs: Background Information for Fearful Symmetry Option 3D









Fearful Symmetry Cub Scout Nova Award for Mathematics Requirement 4: Visit
Visit a place where symmetry is important (such as an art exhibit, building site, or printer) or visit with a person who works with symmetry (such as an artist, interior designer, or landscape architect). Discuss with your counselor the symmetry or ideas of balance involved.
People and Places to Visit to See Symmetry in the Real World
Fearful Symmetry Cub Scout Nova Award for Mathematics Requirement 5: Discuss
Discuss with your counselor how symmetry impacts your everyday life.
Symmetry in Our Everyday Lives
Related Resources for Fearful Symmetry Cub Scout Nova Award for Mathematics
More about the Nova Awards Program (STEM Award)
Fearful Symmetry is part of the Nova Award program. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The NOVA Awards program combines knowledge of STEM concepts with hands on activities.
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