Beacon Lesson Plan Library

Get the Picture?

Kim Auerbach


Students design a simple coordinate graph picture. Then reflect, translate and rotate the picture according to specific directions.


The student identifies and performs the various transformations (reflection, translation, rotation) of a given figure on a coordinate plane.


-Coordinate graphs, 4 graphs per sheet (2 sheets per student)
-Pencils (1 per student)
-Picture This! Activity Sheet (1 per student)
-Overhead coordinate graph transparency


1. Prepare examples of reflection, translations and rotations for review purposes.
2. Make an answer key for questions 1-4 and teacher made examples for questions 5-8. Examples can be shared with the students after they have had the opportunity to share their designs first.


1. Review concepts of reflection, translation, and rotation with students.

2. Students complete questions 1, 2, 3, and 4 from activity sheet which involves a given set of ordered pairs and specific instructions on reflection, translation, and rotation.

3. Have students volunteer to work problems 1, 2, 3, and 4 on an overhead transparency.

4. Now it's time for the students to be creative. They must design a simple picture in quadrant I, and then write down the specific ordered pairs that would duplicate the picture. Then continue to follow the directions on whether to reflect, translate, or rotate the figure. They will design 4 individual pictures, which are questions 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the activity sheet.

5. If time permits, students may share their pictures by volunteering to work problems 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the overhead.


Completion of question 1-4 are 5 points each. Questions 5-8 are 20 points each. Students who have difficulty may need additional practice and specific feedback from the teacher.


1. Students can design a more complex picture using all 4 quadrants. List ordered pairs, so that picture can be duplicated. Students could receive extra credit for designing a picture, and extra credit for graphing
someone's designed picture.
2. To make grading easier, you could have students use different colored pencils for the reflection, translation, and rotation. (Reflection across the x axis could be blue. The reflection across the y axis could be green. The translation could be red, and the rotation orange.)

Attached Files

The Get the Picture? Activity Sheet.     File Extension: pdf

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