Mental Transformation

(Levine, Huttenlocher, Taylor & Langrock, 1999)

Key Focus Question:  How can you develop confident mental modelling in geometry?
In our daily lives we see many examples of shapes that have been modified (changed)  or transformed.   This section will help to develop child's own subject knowledge about geometry and transformation, as well as skills in developing they understanding.

exploring the shape (and space maybe)
In geometry, ‘transformation’ means altering some geometric property of a shape, (such  as rotating it or moving its position on the page) while keeping other properties of the  shape the same (we say the shapes are ‘congruent’).   An excellent way for kids to model transformation is by using physical objects or  looking at shapes in everyday life and how they are transformed e.g. in fabric patterns. 

While kids are doing this, encourage them to talk with others and each other about what  they are doing. Talking about how they are trying to manipulate or meditate the objects will improve  their understanding of geometry and the language associated with it.