Symmetry Valentine Hearts

These are Valentine hearts made using symmetry.   They can be designed to be simple or elaborate.  I have done them with my Third Grade students and they turn out great using different colored backgrounds.   The craft of Pennsylvania German paper cutting is called Scherenschnitte.  (Try to say that 3 times fast!)

First create half a heart design on white paper and place it on two colors of 12" x 18" construction paper.  Be sure the paper is on the fold:

Then cut the outside of the heart shape and separate the two papers.   Keep one color solid.  Cut the inside heart design out:

Open up the paper:

Glue the heart on the background:

Here is an example of a heart with cats. It is more challenging due to the cutting:

These activity can be done with a range of grade levels and differentiated by difficulty.  Students may enjoy making up their own designs.  

I have also seen paper doilies cut into heart shapes and they look great!