Computational Thinking Lessons

Polygon Transformations
Grade 8, 45-60min

In the Polygon Transformations lesson, students explore geometric manipulations including

reflections, translations, rotations and dilations using the Polygon Transformer web app.
This tool can be used throughout the unit, and can also be leveraged to create homework
and classwork assignments.

Topics addressed
Plotting polygons on the coordinate plane
Transforming polygons through translations, rotations, reflections and dilations
Recognizing and justifying geometric congruence
Primary CT concept: algorithmic thinking. Students create an algorithm, which in this
case is series of transformations, to change their starting polygon (the input) to their
final polygon (the output). They can also work to identify the series of steps used when
given both the input and the output, another essential skill for algorithmic thinking.
Students will be able to
Describe how translations, rotations, reflections and dilations affect polygons on the
coordinate plane
Identify congruency in polygons after single or multiple translations, rotations and
reflections
Leverage a visualization tool to help solve geometric problems
Materials
Polygon Transformer Chrome app or Polygon Transformer web app
Student worksheet:

Prep
Install Polygon Transformer Chrome app on students’ Chromebooks (through Google
Admin console), provide a link where they can install the Chrome app from, or provide
a link to the web app. If you are not using Chromebooks, you must use the web app. It
is possible to run this activity without the app, if you do not have devices for students.
Suggested lesson breakdown
The Polygon Transformer app can be integrated into many lessons you likely already have –
have students check their work on paper using the app, or allow them to use the app on
some questions, or for homework. A possible worksheet is provided above, but it will
heavily depend on how far into the geometric transformations unit your students are.

5min – introduce and demo Polygon Transformer app so students know what to expect
and how to use it
30min – students use Polygon Transformer app to work through worksheet individually
or with a partner
10-30min – students have “free time” to further explore the app, creating new shapes
and exploring what different series of transformations lead to
Common Core standards
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.A.1
Verify experimentally the properties of rotations, reflections, and translations.
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.A.2
Understand that a two-dimensional figure is congruent to another if the second can be
obtained from the first by a sequence of rotations, reflections, and translations; given
two congruent figures, describe a sequence that exhibits the congruence between
them.
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.A.3
Describe the effect of dilations, translations, rotations, and reflections on two-
dimensional figures using coordinates.
CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.A.4
Understand that a two-dimensional figure is similar to another if the second can be
obtained from the first by a sequence of rotations, reflections, translations, and
dilations; given two similar two-dimensional figures, describe a sequence that exhibits
the similarity between them.