Teaching the Common Core Math Standards With Hands-On Activities, Grades 3-5 (89 page)

Background

The coordinate plane is created by the intersection of two perpendicular number lines. The horizontal line is called the
-axis, and the vertical line is called the
-axis. The point at which the lines intersect is called the origin, (0, 0). The axes divide the plane into four sections called quadrants. The quadrant in the upper right-hand section of the plane is Quadrant I. Moving in a counterclockwise direction, Quadrant II is the upper left-hand section of the plane, Quadrant III is the lower left-hand section, and Quadrant IV is the lower right-hand section.

Points can be plotted and located in the coordinate plane by using coordinates, or ordered pairs. An ordered pair is written in the form (
,
), where
is called the
-coordinate and
is called the
-coordinate. The
-coordinate tells how many spaces to move horizontally from the origin. The
-coordinate tells how many spaces to move vertically after moving horizontally.

Activity: Constructing a Coordinate Plane

Students will construct a coordinate plane and locate specific points in it.

Materials

Ruler; graph paper; reproducible, “Directions for Constructing a Coordinate Plane,” for each student; overhead projector for the teacher.

Procedure

1.
Explain to your students that a coordinate plane is a flat surface formed by two perpendicular lines. The coordinate plane extends forever in all directions.

2.
Hand out copies of the reproducible and explain that it contains directions for constructing a coordinate plane. Review the directions with your students to make certain that they understand the terms.

3.
Instruct students to construct their coordinate planes. Caution them to follow directions precisely.

4.
After your students have drawn their coordinate planes, identify the terms: horizontal line, vertical line,
-axis,
-axis, origin, and quadrants. Project a coordinate plane via an overhead projector to help your students follow your explanations.