Home›Lesson Plans›Mathematics›Geometry · Grade 8

Transformations: Sliding, Flipping & Turning Shapes

Students explore the four ways a shape can move on a coordinate grid — translation, reflection, rotation, and dilation — and learn which ones keep the shape the same size (congruent) and which change it.

Grade 8Geometry50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Perform a translation (slide).
  • ✓Perform a reflection (flip).
  • ✓Perform a rotation (turn).
  • ✓Know which transformations keep congruence.
Essential Question

You can slide, flip, or spin a shape and it stays the same size — or stretch it to a new size. How do we describe each kind of move mathematically?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

The Transformation Tool

Project this and apply each transformation to the triangle. Compare the image (blue) to the original (gray) and see how the coordinates change.

🔄 Transform the shape — slide, flip, turnTry it

The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — Move That Shape

5 min

Slide, flip, or spin a shape — is it still the “same” shape?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Move a cut-out shape.
  • Ask what stays the same.
  • Set the goal: transformations.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch the moves.
  • Notice what stays.
  • Predict the types.
2

I Do — Four Moves

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show translation, reflection, rotation.
  • Note dilation changes size.
  • Track how coordinates change.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn the moves.
  • See congruence.
  • Track coordinates.
3

We Do — Transform Together

13 min

Class drives the Transformation Tool.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Apply each transformation.
  • Compare image to original.
  • State the coordinate rule.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Apply each move.
  • Compare shapes.
  • State the rule.
4

You Do — On Your Own

12 min

Students transform shapes.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Assign transformations to perform.
  • Give the image coordinates.
  • Identify congruent vs. not.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Perform the moves.
  • Give coordinates.
  • Identify congruence.
5

Close — Close

5 min

One transformation.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a shape + a move.
  • Find the image.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find the image.
  • State the rule.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, including the Standards for Mathematical Practice.

CCSS
8.G.1

Verify properties of rotations, reflections, and translations.

CCSS
8.G.3

Describe the effect of transformations on two-dimensional figures using coordinates.

CCSS
8.G.2

Understand congruence through a sequence of transformations.

CCSS
8.G.4

Understand similarity through transformations including dilations.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Move a cut-out on a grid.
  • Sentence frame: “A ___ moves the shape by ___.”
  • Name each transformation.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with translations only.
  • Use a physical shape to move.
  • Track one vertex at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Combine two transformations.
  • Perform a dilation and compare size.
  • Find the coordinate rule for each move.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📓Math notebooks
  • 💻The Transformation Tool
  • 📐Grid paper
  • ✂️Cut-out shapes
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

transformationa move that changes a shape’s position or sizetranslationa slidereflectiona flip over a linerotationa turn around a pointdilationa resize (bigger or smaller)congruentsame size and shapeimagethe shape after a transformationpre-imagethe original shape
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Which transformation is a “flip” over a line?
A reflection.
QUESTION 2
Do translations, reflections, and rotations change a shape’s size?
No — they keep it congruent (same size and shape); only a dilation changes size.
QUESTION 3
After reflecting a point over the x-axis, how do its coordinates change?
The y-coordinate changes sign: (x, y) becomes (x, −y).

Going deeper? Combine transformations.

Have students apply two transformations in a row (like a reflection then a translation) and describe the single move that would do the same thing. A printable transformations sheet is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 TransformationsFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 TransformationsQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ TransformationsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: congruent, dilation, image, pre-image, reflection, rotation, transformation, translation
  1. the original shape
  2. a turn around a point
  3. the shape after a transformation
  4. a flip over a line
  5. a slide
  6. a move that changes a shape’s position or size
  7. a resize (bigger or smaller)
  8. same size and shape

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Which transformation is a “flip” over a line?
  2. Do translations, reflections, and rotations change a shape’s size?
  3. After reflecting a point over the x-axis, how do its coordinates change?
Answer key — Part A: 1) pre-image · 2) rotation · 3) image · 4) reflection · 5) translation · 6) transformation · 7) dilation · 8) congruent
Part B: 1) A reflection. 2) No — they keep it congruent (same size and shape); only a dilation changes size. 3) The y-coordinate changes sign: (x, y) becomes (x, −y).