The note
How schools teach it now
A translation slides a shape without turning it, described as left or right, then up or down. A reflection flips it in a mirror line: each corner ends up the same distance away on the other side. Year 6 does both in all four quadrants.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Put a coin on a squared-paper grid. Call out moves ('4 right, 1 down') and your child slides it and says the new coordinates. Then fold along a line and hold the paper to a window to check a reflection.
Worked example
Point A is at (2, 3). It is translated 4 left and 5 down. Where does it end up?
- 4 left: x goes from 2 to −2.
- 5 down: y goes from 3 to −2.
Answer: (−2, −2)
Common mistakes to watch for
- Moving up when the question says down, or mixing up x and y.
- Measuring to the mirror line from the wrong corner.
- Sliding the shape when it should be flipped.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Move one corner at a time and check it.”
- Rather than
- “Just copy it over there.”