Math lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 60 minutes
Translate points and describe translations
Geometry
CCSS 8.G.A.1CCSS 8.G.A.3England: KS3 Geometry and measuresEngland: GCSE Foundation Geometry and measures
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Translate points and describe translations.
- 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: Translations, reflections and rotations
Leads to: Identify transformations from coordinate rules
Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Translations, reflections and rotations). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
Hook · 6 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: Translate points and describe translations. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Triangle PQR has P(0, 0), Q(4, 0), R(0, 4). It is translated by (−2, −4). Where does R go?
- Step 1: (−2, 0)
- Answer: (−2, 0)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Triangle PQR has P(0, 0), Q(2, 0), R(0, 3). It is translated by (−2, 1). Where does P go? → (−2, 1)Prompt: Add the translation to the coordinates of the vertex.
- Triangle PQR has P(0, 0), Q(4, 0), R(0, 2). It is translated by (3, 4). Where does R go? → (3, 6)Prompt: Add the translation to the coordinates of the vertex.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Triangle PQR has P(0, 0), Q(2, 0), R(0, 4). It is translated by (−3, 4). Where does Q go? → (−1, 4)Prompt: Add the translation to the coordinates of the vertex.
- Triangle PQR has P(0, 0), Q(2, 0), R(0, 2). It is translated by (2, −2). Where does Q go? → (4, −2)Prompt: Add the translation to the coordinates of the vertex.
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: Translations, reflections and rotations.
- 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
- Move on to: Identify transformations from coordinate rules.
- 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-8.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder