Strengthen your pupils’ understanding of shape movement across a coordinate grid with this Year 6 translation worksheet. Children begin by identifying the coordinates of a given shape (X), followed by translating it 9 squares to the right and 7 squares down to form a new shape (Y). They then calculate the new coordinates after the translation. In the second part of the activity, learners translate a different shape (M) 6 units horizontally and 5 units vertically, reinforcing their understanding of directional movement in all four quadrants.
Key Curriculum Focus
This KS2 position and direction worksheet aligns with the national curriculum by supporting:
- Describing positions on the full coordinate grid using all four quadrants
- Translating shapes and describing movements using coordinates
- Reinforcing knowledge of geometry through visual problem solving
Children use coordinates and directional language to describe and perform translations with accuracy. This Year 6 translation worksheet encourages them to apply their reasoning skills by working through clear, step-by-step movement instructions. The tasks also help to build spatial awareness and strengthen connections between movement and coordinates.
Translation in Year 6 Maths
Translation involves sliding a shape from one position to another without rotating or flipping it. For example, if a triangle at (2, 3) is moved 4 squares right and 2 squares up, the new position will be (6, 5). In Year 6, children use all four quadrants of a coordinate grid and must describe movement using ordered pairs and vectors, developing fluency and accuracy.
Activity Idea: Grid Walk Translation
Set up a large-scale coordinate grid in your classroom using masking tape on the floor. Children act as the shape and move according to translation instructions, such as ‘move 5 right, 3 down’. Have observers record the new ‘coordinates’ to reinforce conceptual understanding through movement.
Discover more Year 6 maths resources
This translation worksheet works well alongside our Year 6 Translation and Reflection Challenge Worksheet, which encourages pupils to apply transformations using a blank grid. To support your KS2 geometry lessons further, browse our growing collection of Year 6 maths worksheets covering coordinates, direction and movement.
