Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 30 minutes
Reflect points in a horizontal or vertical mirror line
Geometry
CCSS 8.G.A.1England: Y5 GeometryEngland: Y6 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Reflect points in a horizontal or vertical mirror line.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Lines of symmetry; Coordinates in the first quadrant
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Lines of symmetry; Coordinates in the first quadrant). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- How many lines of symmetry does a regular pentagon have? → 5Prompt: A line of symmetry folds the shape into two matching halves.
- Which capital letter has a vertical line of symmetry: G, H, Z, S? (Z / G / S / H) → HPrompt: Imagine a mirror standing straight up through the middle of the letter.
- How many lines of symmetry does an isosceles triangle (not equilateral) have? → 1Prompt: A line of symmetry folds the shape into two matching halves.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
- Share the objective: Reflect points in a horizontal or vertical mirror line. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Model one question from the student sheet, thinking aloud.
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
Watch out for
- Thinking a square turned on its corner is no longer a square.
- Reading the wrong scale on a protractor.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Lines of symmetry.
- Use concrete materials: rulers and protractors.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder