ALEX Learning Activity

  

Finding the Four Quadrants

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Ginger Boyd
System:Geneva County
School:Samson Middle School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2847
Title:
Finding the Four Quadrants
Digital Tool/Resource:
Number Plane Treasure Hunt
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

In this learning activity from MathsLinks, students will complete a treasure-hunt activity centered on locating points on the number plane and identifying which quadrant they are in or points on the axes.
  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:
After/Explain/Elaborate
Activity:

1. The teacher may want to review locating points on the coordinate plane and the four quadrants prior to the treasure hunt. 

2. The teacher will need to pass out copies of the Number Plane Treasure Hunt. Each sheet has coordinates in the middle. These are the students' coordinates. They need to find another student whose coordinates match the criteria in each square. They need to write the student's name and coordinates in that square. Each one needs to be a different student. The first student to complete all the squares wins. 
Assessment Strategies:

Use formative assessment (observation) to check if students are able to locate points on the number plane and identify which quadrant they are in or points on the axes.
Advanced Preparation:

Teachers will need to print the pages for the Number Plane Treasure Hunt.

The students will need paper and a pen or pencil.
Variation Tips (optional):

For struggling students, the teacher can leave a diagram of the coordinate plane with the four quadrants labeled on the board. 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

MathsLinks is free for teachers. Teachers need to create a free account to access available resources.

This learning activity can be used with the following activities:

Introducing the Four Quadrants of the Coordinate Plane (before) 

Getting to Know the Cartesian Plane (during)
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: coordinate plane, ordered pairs, Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, xaxis, yaxis