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Year 4

Draw polygons specified by translations

I can draw polygons on a grid according to a given translation.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 4

Draw polygons specified by translations

I can draw polygons on a grid according to a given translation.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Up, down, right and left can be used to move objects on a grid.
  2. Combine direction with a number of squares to give accurate directions.
  3. The move can include a horizontal and a vertical direction.

Common misconception

Pupils might think that translating a shape changes its size, shape, or orientation, rather than just its position.

Clarify that translation only changes the position of the shape on the grid; the shape itself remains identical in size, shape, and orientation. Use visual examples to compare the shape before and after translation to reinforce this concept.

Keywords

  • Translate / translating - Sliding or moving a shape without rotating or flipping it means to translate.

  • Translation - Translation is a transformation in which every point of a shape moves the same distance in the same direction.

  • Horizontal - Horizontal is side to side, like the horizon.

  • Vertical - Vertical is an up-down direction or position.

Emphasise that all vertices of the polygon must be translated by the same number of squares in the same direction. Use tracing or drawing to help pupils visualise how each point moves consistently.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Marking a vertex helps you track a translation. True or false?
Correct answer: True
False
Q2.
What translation is needed to move the polygon from A to B?
An image in a quiz
3 squares right and 4 squares down.
Correct answer: 2 squares right and 3 squares down.
2 squares left and 3 squares down.
Q3.
Lucas wants to translate the polygon from A to B. Which translation is incorrect?
An image in a quiz
3 squares left. 3 squares up.
Correct answer: 3 squares right. 3 squares up.
3 squares up. 3 squares left.
Q4.
Look at Sofia’s directions. Which image shows the correct translation? 3 squares right and 1 square down. What’s the new position?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q5.
Complete to the translation from A to B. squares right. 2 squares down.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 3, three
Q6.
Sofia says she has translated the polygon 4 squares right and 1 square down. Is she correct?
An image in a quiz
Yes
Correct answer: No

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Jacob says ‘I’ve translated this polygon A to B using these directions: 4 squares left and 1 square up.’ Is he correct?
An image in a quiz
Yes
Correct answer: No
Q2.
Describe the translation of A to B.
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 4 squares right. 3 squares up.
3 squares right. 3 squares up.
4 squares right. 4 squares up.
Q3.
Describe the translation of A to B. The same number is in both instructions. squares left. ___ squares down.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 5, five
Q4.
Match the translations of the shapes to the instructions.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:A to B,1 square left. 5 squares up.

1 square left. 5 squares up.

Correct Answer:A to C,6 squares right. 4 squares up.

6 squares right. 4 squares up.

Q5.
Sofia is struggling to find the original positions of polygons after a translation What helpful tip can we give? the directions.
Correct Answer: Reverse
Q6.
Lucas translates a polygon 3 squares right and 2 squares down. The image shows the ending position. Describe the translation to get it back to its original position:
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 3 squares left. 2 squares up.
3 squares right. 2 squares down.
4 squares left. 2 squares up.