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      Checking and securing understanding of rotation

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe a rotation and perform a given rotation on an object.

      Key learning points

      1. Tracing paper can be a helpful tool to perform a rotation.
      2. The image and the object should be congruent.
      3. Unless a full rotation occurs, the object and its image will not have the same orientation.
      4. Clockwise is the direction the hands of a clock travel in.
      5. To rotate, you need the centre, direction and angle of rotation.

      Keywords

      • Transformation - A transformation is a process that may change the size, orientation or position of a shape.

      • Rotation - The rotation of an object is the turning of an object by a fixed amount and around a fixed point (called the centre of rotation), without the image being flipped or its size changing.

      • Centre of rotation - The centre of rotation is the fixed point about which an object is rotated.

      • Object - The object is the starting figure, before a transformation has been applied.

      • Image - The image is the resulting figure, after a transformation has been applied.

      Common misconception

      Pupils may rotate in the opposite direction to the stated direction.

      Encourage pupils to read the question twice and highlight the key pieces of information before starting the question.

      Teacher tip

      Pupils could rotate an object every 45°, for example, and then investigate the rotational symmetry of the final picture.

      Equipment

      Tracing paper

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      A is a process that may change the size, orientation or position of a shape.

      Correct Answer: transformation

      Q2.
      If one shape can fit exactly on top of another using , reflection or translation, then the shapes are congruent.

      Correct Answer: rotation

      Q3.
      Select the transformation that does not always produce an image that is congruent to the object.

      Correct answer: enlargement
      reflection
      rotation
      translation

      Q4.
      Some Oak pupils are discussing whether these two triangles are congruent. Who is correct?

      An image in a quiz
      Aisha: "The two triangles have the same angles so they are congruent."
      Laura: "They do not have the same angles so they are not congruent."
      Lucas: "They have the same angles but we need $$x$$ and $$y$$ for congruence."
      Correct answer: Sofia: "They have the same angles but we need $$x$$ OR $$y$$ for congruence."

      Q5.
      Shapes A and B are congruent. The length of the side marked $$y$$ is cm.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 15, 15 cm, 15cm

      Q6.
      Quadrilaterals A and B are similar. The length of the side marked $$y$$ is cm.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 18, 18cm, 18 cm

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      The fixed point about which an object is rotated is called the __________.

      centre
      Correct answer: centre of enlargement
      centre of rotation
      centre of turn
      mirror line

      Q2.
      Shape a has been rotated 90° anti-clockwise about (-2, 2). The image is shape .

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: d

      Q3.
      Match together equivalent rotations.

      Correct Answer:90° anti-clockwise,270° clockwise

      270° clockwise

      Correct Answer:180° clockwise,180° anti-clockwise

      180° anti-clockwise

      Correct Answer:270° anti-clockwise,90° clockwise

      90° clockwise

      Correct Answer:360° anticlockwise,360° clockwise

      360° clockwise

      Q4.
      Describe the transformation that maps shape A onto shape B.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: Rotation of 90° anti-clockwise about (1, 2)
      Rotation of 90° clockwise about (1, 2)
      Rotation of 90° anti-clockwise about (2, 1)
      Rotation of 90° clockwise about (2, 1)

      Q5.
      The transformation that maps shape A onto shape B is a rotation of ° clockwise about (0, 0).

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 270

      Q6.
      The transformation that maps shape A onto shape B is a rotation 90° clockwise about .

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: (-2, 0), (-2,0), (-2 , 0)

      To help you plan your 10 maths lesson on: Checking and securing understanding of rotation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...