Course: / Math
Grade Level: / 6-8
Duration: / 30 minutes multiple sessions
Lesson Overview and Rationale:
Students are introduced to the coordinate plane by using the coordinates of points to direct a lost girlhome. In their directions, students will identify the x and y axes in the coordinate plane and the coordinates of a given point in the first quadrant
Essential Questions and Focus Points:What is a coordinate plane?
How do you find the coordinate plane?
Student Objectives:The student identifies the x and y axes in a coordinate plane and identifies the coordinates of a given point in the first quadrant.
Student Assessment and Evaluation:Students create a journal entry that correctly describes the x and y axes in a coordinate plane and identifies the coordinates of a given point in the first quadrant.
Evidence:
The students correctly label the x and y axes and identify the coordinates of given points in the first quadrant.
30 Minutes: Session 1
This lesson addresses identifying the x and y axes in a coordinate plane and identifying the coordinates of a given point in the first quadrant.
1. Ask students if they have ever given directions to anyone who was lost.
2. Encourage students to talk about their experiences giving directions using phrases, such as going up or down, left or right, and indicating when or where to stop before changing direction. Explain that today the class will learn about the coordinates of points in the coordinate plane by helping Mary, who is lost, to find her way home.
3. Show students an oversized grid with little Mary, a cartoon character who is lost and needs directions to get home. (Note: The chart will indicate an aerial view of a section of Mary’s neighborhood with Mary’s house, a park, and a library drawn on a grid that indicates the x and y coordinates and the quadrants).
4. Encourage students to talk about and suggest ways for Mary to get home, using words such as up, down, right, and left.
5. Discuss the coordinate system, what makes up the coordinate system, the x axis, y axis, quadrants, points, and the x and y coordinates of a point. Show students an example of the coordinate system. Point out the x and y axes and the quadrants and identify the coordinates of points. Model the coordinates of point and make sure that students observe and understand the difference between the x and y coordinates and which coordinate is written first. Call upon several students to correctly model the coordinates of a point and identify the first quadrant.
6. Give students an unlabeled sample of the coordinate system and then instruct them to label the x and y axis and the quadrants (visual learners can color the quadrants using different colors to indicate the fourquadrants. Instruct students to write the correct coordinates on the 5 point drawn in the first quadrant. Also, instruct students to write quadrant one in the place provided.
7. Check for understanding and encourage students to pay attention to the position of the x and y coordinates.
8. Review the coordinates of a point, the quadrants, and the x and y axis.
30 Minutes: Session 2
1. Review by questioning students on the coordinates of a point, the quadrants, and the x and y axes. Repeat the procedure for identifying the coordinates of a point, identifying the x and y axes and the first quadrant.
2. Distribute activity material (grid with little Mary who needs to find her way home). Instruct students to identify and write three to five correct coordinates that will lead Mary to her home. Tell students that they will be assessed on correctly completing the assignment, which include correctly identifying and writing three, four, or five coordinates that lead Mary home, identifying and writing the x and y coordinates in the correct position ( x coordinate first, and then the y coordinates last), correctly labeling the x and y axis.
3. Instruct students to write the definition of quadrants, coordinate points, and label the x and y axes in their journals.
4. Check students’ definitions and correct labeling of the coordinates and x and y axes
-Pencils for students
-Unlabeled coordinate plane and coordinate plane
with Mary and her targeted home (one per student)
-Math Journals or a piece of notebook paper for each student
Make one copy of the unlabeled coordinate system per student.
Make one copy of coordinate plane with Mary and her targeted home per student.
Make one oversized grid showing Mary and her targeted home (for teacher).
Additional Resources: