Position and Direction - Translation - Planning

In a Year 5 summer term lesson on Position and Direction, the focus is on the concept of translation. The lesson commences with a practical activity where children follow a series of directional steps, laying the groundwork for understanding how shapes can be moved on a grid. Translation is defined as the process of moving a shape in a horizontal or vertical direction without altering its appearance. The lesson's key vocabulary includes terms such as coordinates, axes, positional language, and translation itself. Students are encouraged to visit the accompanying website for additional resources like vocabulary cards and definitions.

During the lesson, students engage in a series of activities designed to deepen their understanding of translation. Initially, they work in pairs to translate various shapes on a grid, ensuring that every vertex of the shape moves the same distance in the same direction. As they progress, they describe translations between shapes using precise language, focusing on moving left or right before moving up or down. Independent learning involves fluency and precision tasks on differentiated worksheets. The plenary session allows for the sharing of strategies and the addressing of any misconceptions. The lesson also includes reflection prompts, where students evaluate what they've learned, the skills they've used, such as counting and using positional vocabulary, and what they found challenging. Differentiated outcomes are provided to cater to varying levels of proficiency, from working towards expected standards to achieving greater depth in understanding and describing translations.