If you have chalk, go outside and draw the coordinate plane on the sidewalk (make it big enough for you to walk around). If you don't have sidewalk chalk, just draw it on a piece of paper and find a small marker you can use
Pretend the coordinate plane is a compass!
Label the top arrow N
Label the right arrow E
Label the bottom arrow S
Label the left Arrow W.
You are going to take a few trips. Each time you start a new trip start by standing (or placing your marker) at the origin (0,0).
After completing each trip, answer the following questions:
What Quadrant are you in?
What are the coordinates where you ended up?
What are the signs for the coordinates? Example. If you end up at the coordinates (-2,3) write your answer like this (-.+)
Trip 1:
Start at the origin
Go two steps East. Stop
Go two steps North. Stop
Go three steps East. Stop
Answer the Questions!
Trip 2:
Start at the origin
Go five steps West. Stop
Go two steps North. Stop
Answer the Questions!
Trip 3:
Start at the origin
Go two steps East. Stop
Go two steps South. Stop
Answer the Questions!
Trip 4:
Start at the origin
Go four steps West. Stop
Go two steps south. Stop
Answer the Questions!
Trip 5:
Start at the origin
Go four steps East. Stop
Go two steps North. Stop
Go one step West. Stop
Go one step North. Stop
Answer the Questions!
Trip 6:
Start at the origin
Go three steps West. Stop
Go one step North. Stop
Answer the Questions!
After completing ALL THE TRIPS, answer the following questions.
What do you notice about the signs for (x,y) in quadrant I?
What do you notice about the signs for (x,y) in quadrant II?
Make a hypothesis about the signs for (x,y) in quadrants III and IV?
How can you tell what quadrant a point will be in without graphing the actual point?
Classwork
Using butcher paper, create a simple coordinate plane in the classroom. (See right)
The students are going to play 4 square.
4 students will stand (one in each quadrant)
You will project the powerpoint (right)
As each new slide appears, the class must call out (quickly) which quadrant the point would appear in.
The person with the ball must then pass to the person in that quadrant.
Students are out and switch places with a classmate for regular 4 square rules reasons AND/OR if they pass it to the incorrect quadrant!