Transformations on a grid
Represent and carry out geometric transformations on squared paper or a coordinate grid: reflections (in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal mirror lines, including the axes), translations (described as a vector or as left/right/up/down moves), and rotations (90° or 180° about a stated centre point); describe each transformation precisely using the correct language; identify which transformation maps one shape onto its image by comparing position, orientation, and size
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“If your child sees a shape and its mirror image on squared paper, can they draw in the exact mirror line, and describe the reflection precisely — including where the line of reflection is — without just saying 'it flipped'?”
Full guide and materials
- Activity. Represent and carry out geometric transformations on squared paper or a coordinate grid: reflections (in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal mirror lines, including the axes), translations (described as a vector or as left/right/up/down moves), and rotations (90° or 180° about a stated centre point); describe each transformation precisely using the correct language; identify which transformation maps one shape onto its image by comparing position, orientation, and size
What to notice. Reflect a shape in a given mirror line on a grid and label the new coordinates • Translate a shape by a given number of squares horizontally and vertically and describe the movement • Rotate a shape 90° or 180° about a given centre on a grid and check the image is congruent to the original
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If your child sees a shape and its mirror image on squared paper, can they draw in the exact mirror line, and describe the reflection precisely — including where the line of reflection is — without just saying 'it flipped'?
Represent and carry out geometric transformations on squared paper or a coordinate grid: reflections (in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal mirror lines, including the axes), translations (described as a vector or as left/right/up/down moves), and rotations (90° or 180° about a stated centre point); describe each transformation precisely using the correct language; identify which transformation maps one shape onto its image by comparing position, orientation, and size
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Check understanding
- Reflect a shape in a given mirror line on a grid and label the new coordinates
- Translate a shape by a given number of squares horizontally and vertically and describe the movement
- Rotate a shape 90° or 180° about a given centre on a grid and check the image is congruent to the original
“If your child sees a shape and its mirror image on squared paper, can they draw in the exact mirror line, and describe the reflection precisely — including where the line of reflection is — without just saying 'it flipped'?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Representational
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Domain
- Geometry
- Age range
- Ages 8–12