Team up with your peers and practise giving clear, accurate instructions for transformations with the Following the Path: Location, Position & Transformation Language Game. This interactive, team-based activity encourages students to use precise mathematical language while building collaboration, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning skills.

Students work in pairs to guide each other across a grid using transformation and location language. Each card features two coloured shapes—one for the start position and one for the goal. The challenge? Students must describe how to move from the start to the end using only the initial grid reference and accurate instructions based on location, direction, and transformation. No other coordinates can be mentioned!

With built-in levels of difficulty and fun obstacles such as roadblocks and fences on some cards, students must use creative thinking and a deep understanding of transformation concepts to succeed. This resource is flexible, reusable, and ideal for developing mastery in location, position, and transformation vocabulary.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Use accurate location and position vocabulary to describe movement on a grid
• ✅ Apply transformation language including translation, reflection, and rotation
• ✅ Strengthen communication and listening skills through structured partner talk
• ✅ Develop spatial awareness and logical reasoning

What’s Included:

• 36 task cards with increasing levels of difficulty
• 6 game boards in both high and low colour options
• Optional recording sheets (2 per page) for planning or assessment
• Teacher instructions and gameplay tips

Materials Needed:

• Printed task cards and game boards (preferably on cardstock)
• Write and wipe sleeves and whiteboard markers
• Optional: pattern blocks or other manipulatives if markers aren’t available
• Recording sheets (optional for assessment or student planning)

How to Use:

• • Students work in pairs with one player describing and the other drawing the path
• • The describing player uses only transformation language and one grid reference to explain the movement
• • The goal is to match the path shown on the card without seeing it—purely through verbal instructions
• • First team to correctly complete three cards wins!

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a maths centre or rotation during your transformations or mapping unit
• 💡 Pair with a location vocabulary mini-lesson before gameplay to activate prior knowledge
• 💡 Use recording sheets as evidence of student understanding for assessment folders
• 💡 Assign roles and switch midway through for balanced participation
• 💡 Create a class challenge board and track how many cards each team completes

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Print on thick card and laminate for long-term use
• 💛 Encourage students to use specific transformation terms (e.g. "rotate 90° clockwise")
• 💛 For extra challenge, introduce timed rounds or team penalties for unclear instructions
• 💛 Adapt the rules to suit your class—try requiring the use of all three transformation types to win
• 💛 If whiteboard markers aren’t available, use tokens or shapes to mark out movement physically

Following the Path: Location, Position & Transformation Language Game is a high-engagement way to reinforce transformation skills and develop students' ability to use mathematical language with precision—all while working together and having fun!