Working with Geometer's Sketchpad - Transformations from Scratch

Transformation Investigations
(Students make their own pages working "From Scratch" worksheets.)

(Materials for use with Geometer's Sketchpad 4.0 or higher -- not GSP 3.0)

Investigate line reflections, point reflections, translations, dilations, rotations, and glide reflections. Theses worksheets include directions for students to develop their own GSP files. Investigative questions are also included on the sheets.

These worksheets were developed using a computer screen size of 1024 x 768.

These .pdf worksheets are to be used only by individual teachers in their own classrooms.
Please refer to Terms of Use.

Simple starting directions to students:
Open the software package Geometer's Sketchpad 4.0 or higher.
Choose the arrow at the top of the vertical toolbar on the left.
Maximize the screen for best viewing conditions. (The middle box at the right is showing a screen in maximized view.)
Read the directions on the worksheets carefully. Do not improvise until the activity is completed.
Teacher: Give directions to students if you wish them to SAVE their files when the activity is completed. How should they name the file? To what directory or account should they save the file? Will they be using the file again on another day?

Title	Description	Representative Pic
Line Reflections (2 pages)	-directions for drawing and reflecting a triangle over the y-axis, x-axis, liney = x, and line y = -x. Investigations of coordinates, lengths of sides, measure of angles, and creation of formulas.
Point Reflections (2 pages)	-directions for drawing and reflecting a triangle over a point (origin and off-origin). Investigations of coordinates, lengths of sides, measure of angles, quadrants, and creation of formula.
Translations (2 pages)	-directions for drawing and translating a triangle (2 methods of translating discussed). Investigations of coordinates, lengths of sides, measure of angles, and creation of formula. Also an investigation of a translation as a series of reflections over parallel lines.
Dilations (2 pages)	-directions for drawing and dilating a triangle with respect to the origin. Investigations of coordinates, lengths of sides, measure of angles, and creation of formula. Investigations include scale factors of 0.5, 2, and -0.5.
Rotations (2 pages)	-directions for drawing and rotating a triangle with respect to the origin. Investigations of coordinates, lengths of sides, measure of angles, and creation of formula. Investigations include rotations of 90º, 180º, and 270º (additional angles can also be examined).
Glide Reflections (2 pages)	-directions for drawing and glide-reflecting a triangle across a drawn line. Investigations of coordinates, lengths of sides, measure of angles, and creation of formula of composition. Investigations includes contemplation of a glide reflection as a composition of three other transformations.