predict and describe positions
and orientations of two-dimensional shapes after transformations
such as reflections, rotations, and translations.
The word transform
means "to change." In geometry, a transformation changes the
position of a shape on a coordinate plane. What that really means is
that a shape is moving from one place to another. There are three basic
transformations:
Flip (Reflection)
Slide (Translation)
Turn (Rotation)
Being able to visualize the movement
of a shape is very important. The SMARTBoard
mini-movies below show a letter, or a polygon (after all, block
letters are really just polygons), in their original positions before
being transformed. By clicking the play button, we are able to watch
the path the letter takes while being transformed and see their ending
positions after the slide, flip, or turn has taken place.
Stay up to date on all of our
new, free, mini-movies and student activities as they are
added to the site each month.
more from misterteacher.com
Flip
(Reflection)
A FLIP takes place
when a shape is flipped across a line and faces the opposite
direction. Because the shape ends up facing the opposite direction,
it appears to be reflected, as in a mirror. Hence the name REFLECTION.
A shape can reflect
across the vertical axis, or y-axis, or it can reflect across
the horizontal axis, or x-axis.
Click
on the VERTICAL button to watch the letter N reflect over the
vertical axis, or y-axis. Click the HORIZONTAL button to watch
the letter N flip over the horizontal, or x-axis.
Slide
(Translation)
A SLIDE,
or TRANSLATION, takes place when a shape moves in one direction
from one place to another. When you watch the shape move, it
appears to be sliding. Often you will see an arrow underneath
the shape to show what direction it is moving in.
Click
on the DIAGONAL button to watch the letter E translate in a diagonal
direction. Click the HORIZONTAL button to watch the letter E translate
in a horizontal direction.
Turn
(Rotation)
A letter
can also turn on a point away from its original position. It
almost looks like a clock hand turning around the face of a
clock. When you watch the A turn, or rotate, it will rotate
by four different angles. When it rotates by 90º, it looks like
it is laying on its side. When it rotates by 180º, it looks
like it is upside down. When it rotates by 270º, it also looks
like it is lying on its side. A 360º rotation means the shape
will turn all the around.
