Slide, Turn, Flip

Slide an asymmetric arrow across a grid and use turns and flips to match a target.

Grades 2–5 · Geometry

Explore one idea

Slide, Turn, Flip

Your goal

Slide the arrow anchor to (5, 4), then turn or flip the arrow to cover the gold outline exactly.

1 of 3
Coordinate grid. Teal arrow anchored at (1, 1) and target at (5, 4).012345678910012345678SlideSame shape, new positionTurnRotate around the anchorFlipReverse the local shapeGold outline is your target

Reduced motion is on. The controls still update the scene.

Anchor (1, 1). Quarter turns 0. The arrow is not reflected. Translations move every corner equally. Turns and flips keep every side length.

Every grid square has the same unit length in both directions. The arrow is asymmetric, so a reflected arrow can point the same way while still having a different shape orientation.

Related simulations

Study as flashcards

Related infographics

Memory aids

Learn with Slide, Turn, Flip

Slide, Turn, Flip lets elementary students transform an asymmetric arrow on a coordinate grid. Moving its anchor translates every corner by the same amount. Quarter turns rotate the arrow around that anchor, while a flip reverses the local shape before its rotation is applied. Students combine these actions to cover a gold target outline exactly. The activity connects movement language with coordinate position and helps children notice that a reflected shape can point in a familiar direction while still needing a different orientation to match.

What to look for

Find the anchor

Move the dark anchor dot to the gold target dot before matching direction.

Try a quarter turn

Each turn rotates the arrow 90 degrees around its anchor.

Compare a flip

Reflecting the local arrow reverses its shape while keeping all side lengths.

For teachers and curious learners

Distinguish changes in position, direction and reflected orientation under rigid transformations. Ask students to predict what will happen, change one setting, and explain what they observe. Learn gives a starting point. Practice and Challenge offer new goals with the same scene.

An asymmetric polygon moves by integer translations, quarter turns and a local vertical reflection applied before rotation. Grid units have equal lengths in both directions. Every allowed transformation is rigid.

← All simulations