Describing a translation
I can understand the minimum information required to describe a translation.
Describing a translation
I can understand the minimum information required to describe a translation.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A translation can be described in terms of left/right and up/down.
- To be more precise, it is useful to have a scale to provide units of measurement.
- It is important to give both direction and distance.
- Direction and distance can be combined through use of displacement.
Keywords
Displacement - Displacement is the distance from the starting point when measured in a straight line.
Vector - A vector can be used to describe a translation.
Common misconception
Students may count between the closest two vertices rather than corresponding points.
Remind frequently that it needs to be between corresponding vertices, labelling may help for this.
To help you plan your year 7 maths lesson on: Describing a translation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 maths lesson on: Describing a translation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 maths lessons from the Transformations unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions













Exit quiz
6 Questions
The top number, 2, is the -
horizontal displacement
The bottom number, 1, is the -
vertical displacement





$${-4 \choose 1}$$ -
left by 4 units and up by 1 unit
$${4 \choose 1}$$ -
right by 4 units and up by 1 unit
$${-4 \choose -1}$$ -
left by 4 units and down by 1 unit
$${4 \choose -1}$$ -
right by 4 units and down by 1 unit