On the worksheet titled "2D Shape Transformations: Translating a Shape on a Dotted Grid," students are asked to draw a slide of each shape on a dotted grid. The directions also include how many dots in each direction to move the shape. For example, students are asked to move a rectangle one dot to the right and two dots up. They must redraw the exact same shape in the right position without changing its size, shape, or orientation.

Some shapes, like rectangles, are easy to slide, while some irregular polygons are meant to give students a challenge when working on their spatial reasoning and geometry skills.

Shape translations help students develop their spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills. Learning how to move objects in a straight line without changing their size, shape, or orientation is also a foundational skill before learning other transformations, like rotations, reflections, and dilations, which have real-world implications in design, architecture, and physics.

Activities that include shape translations might utilize a dotted grid where students follow the directions to draw a shape in a new place. Activities can also include traditional grids and even video games like Tetris.