ALEX Learning Activity

  

Getting to Know the Cartesian Plane

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Ginger Boyd
System:Geneva County
School:Samson Middle School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2846
Title:
Getting to Know the Cartesian Plane
Digital Tool/Resource:
Getting to Know the Cartesian Plane
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this learning activity from Geogebra, students will learn how to identify the parts of the Cartesian plane and how to determine the signs of the coordinates of points on it. Then the students will use an applet to test their understanding of the rules governing the signs of the coordinates of points on the Cartesian plane. 

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 6
11. Find the position of pairs of integers and other rational numbers on the coordinate plane.

a. Identify quadrant locations of ordered pairs on the coordinate plane based on the signs of the x and y coordinates.

b. Identify (a,b) and (a,-b) as reflections across the x-axis.

c. Identify (a,b) and (-a,b) as reflections across the y-axis.

d. Solve real-world and mathematical problems by graphing points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane, including finding distances between points with the same first or second coordinate.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Create and interpret coordinate axes with positive and negative coordinates.
  • Given ordered pairs made up of rational numbers, locate and explain the placement of the ordered pair on a coordinate plane.
  • Given two ordered pairs that differ only by signs, locate the points on a coordinate plane and explain the relationship of the locations of the points as reflections across one or both axes.
  • Given real-world and mathematical problems where a coordinate graph will aid in the solution and given a graph of a real-world or mathematical situation, interpret the coordinate values of the points in the context of the situation including finding vertical and horizontal distances.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Coordinate plane
  • Quadrants
  • Coordinate values
  • ordered pairs
  • x axis
  • y axis
  • Reflection
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Strategies for creating coordinate graphs.
  • Strategies for finding vertical and horizontal distance on coordinate graphs.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Graph points corresponding to ordered pairs,
  • Represent real-world and mathematical problems on a coordinate plane.
  • Interpret coordinate values of points in the context of real-world/mathematical situations.
  • Determine lengths of line segments on a coordinate plane when the line segment joins points with the same first coordinate (vertical distance) or the same second coordinate (horizontal distance).
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • A graph can be used to illustrate mathematical situations and relationships. These representations help in conceptualizing ideas and in solving problems,
  • Distances on lines parallel to the axes on a coordinate plane are the same as the related distance on the axis (number line).
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.6.11.1: Define quadrant, coordinate plane, coordinate axes (x-axis and y-axis), horizontal, vertical, and reflection.
M.6.11.2: Demonstrate an understanding of an extended coordinate plane.
M.6.11.3: Draw a four-quadrant coordinate plane.
M.6.11.4: Draw and extend vertical and horizontal number lines.
M.6.11.5: Interpret graphing points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane in real-world situations.
M.6.11.6: Recall how to graph points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane.
M.6.11.7: Define ordered pairs.
M.6.11.8: Name the pairs of integers and/or rational numbers of a point on a coordinate plane.
M.6.11.9: Demonstrate when two ordered pairs differ only by signs, the locations of the points are related by reflections across one or both axes.
M.6.11.10: Identify which signs indicate the location of a point in a coordinate plane.
M.6.11.11: Recall how to plot ordered pairs on a coordinate plane.
M.6.11.12: Define reflections.
M.6.11.13: Calculate the distances between points having the same first or second coordinate using absolute value.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Model writing ordered pairs.
  • Identify the x- and y- values in ordered pairs.
  • Label the vertical axis (y).
  • Label the horizontal axis (x).
  • Define ordered pair of numbers, quadrant one, coordinate plane, and plot points.
  • Locate positive numbers on a vertical number line.
    Examples: thermometer, map.
  • Locate positive numbers on a horizontal number line.
  • Locate negative numbers on a horizontal number line.
  • Label x- and y-axis and zero on a coordinate.
  • Illustrate vertical and horizontal number lines.
  • Specify locations on the coordinate system.
  • Define x-axis, y-axis, and zero on a coordinate.
  • Define ordered pair of numbers.
  • Locate positive numbers on a horizontal number line.
  • Locate negative numbers on a horizontal number line.
  • Define symmetry.
  • Identify lines of symmetry on one-dimensional figures.

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.6.11 Graph or identify ordered pairs in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane between 0 and 5, limited to whole numbers.


Learning Objectives:

The students will be able to identify quadrant locations of ordered pairs on the coordinate plane based on the signs of the x and y coordinates. 

  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

When teaching the lesson whole group:

1.  Access the Geogebra lesson Getting to Know the Cartesian Plane with students. 

2. Take time to walk students through the vocabulary in the lesson: x-axis, y-axis, ordered pair, coordinates, origin, and quadrants. 

3. Use the first applet to demonstrate the four quadrants to the students by clicking the checkbox for each quadrant. When you click the checkbox, the corresponding quadrant will change colors. 

4. Answer the questions below the applet together: What property do all the points (x, y) in the first quadrant have in common? the second quadrant? the third quadrant? the fourth quadrant? Hint: It has something to do with the signs of the coordinates.

5. In the second applet, test the students' understanding of the rules governing the signs of the coordinates of points by answering the questions. This can be done by having the students hold up one finger for Q1, two fingers for Q2, three fingers for Q3, four fingers for Q4, make an X for the x-axis, make a Y for the y-axis and make a B for both x and y-axis. (or whatever hand signals the teacher decides to use). 

Assessment Strategies:

The students will be assessed using the applet from the lesson in the learning activity. The applet will test the students' understanding of the rules governing the signs of the coordinates of points on the Cartesian plane. (When teachers are signed into their account, student results will be visible.)


Advanced Preparation:

Geogebra is free for teachers. 

To access all resources, teachers need to create a free account. Creating a free account will allow teachers to be able to assign interactive & engaging tasks to students. Teachers will be able to view live updated progress of students working on a specific task and view which tasks students have (or have not) started. Teachers will be able to ask the entire class questions and see all students' answers instantly.

Teachers who are not familiar with Geogebra can find a complete tutorial for Geogebra Classroom here.

Variation Tips (optional):

This learning activity can be used as a whole group activity, partner activity, or assigned as an individual activity. If assigned individually, or as a partner activity, teachers will want to create a free account and share the lesson with students. 

Notes or Recommendations (optional):

This learning activity can be used with the following activities: 

Introducing the Four Quadrants of the Coordinate Plane (before)

Finding the Four Quadrants (after) 

  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: Cartesian plane, coordinate plane, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, xaxis, yaxis