Mathematics
Intermediate
50 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP
What you need:
IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Sliding Shapes on Squared Paper

Explore how shapes move across squared paper without turning or flipping. You'll slide shapes to new positions, noticing how every corner travels the same distance in the same direction.

Teacher Class Feed

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    1 - Getting Started ~4 mins

    Watch the shape on the screen. It has moved three squares across to a new spot. Look at it where it started and where it finished.

    Tell me in your own words what you saw the shape do.

    2 - Watch and Notice ~9 mins

    When a shape slides, it moves to a new place but keeps facing the same way. It does not turn and it does not flip. That is the whole test for a slide: if the shape still faces exactly the same way, it slid.

    Each picture below shows a shape before and after a slide. Every corner has moved the same number of squares in the same direction.

    A shape can slide in any direction, not only right and down. The third picture below shows a shape that has slid to the left.

    The fourth picture below shows a shape that has slid up.

    In the last picture the shape has slid two ways at once. See where each corner has ended up.

    3 - Try It Together ~10 mins

    Now we slide the shape together on the board. Each turn moves the shape on from wherever it is now — a slide just pushes it that many squares in that direction. Take turns:

    • 2 squares right
    • 3 squares down
    • 2 squares left and 1 square up
    • 3 squares up

    Slide the shape together

    4 - Slide It in Your Copy ~3 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    Illustration for Slide It in Your CopyIn your maths copy on squared paper, draw a small shape. Then draw it again after a slide of 4 squares to the right.

    Check carefully: your new shape must face exactly the same way as the first one.

    5 - Class Challenge ~8 mins

    Now we slide shapes to hit a target outline on the grid. Take turns:

    • 2 squares right
    • 3 squares down
    • 3 right and 2 down
    • 4 right and 1 up

    Match the slide

    Pupil practice
    Module 8 · Symmetry, Location and Transformation Shape & Space
    Lesson 88 · Sliding Shapes on Squared Paper
    Download Activity Book page (PDF)
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