The Coordinate Plane-Quadrant 1

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Pretend it is the end of summer and you want to bury a time capsule full of memories.

• How would a coordinate grid help you plot the exact location of your time capsule?
• How could you use a coordinate grid to help others find your time capsule in the future?

If you created a map using a coordinate plane, you could provide specific directions to your time capsule!

A coordinate plane contains a vertical number line called the y-axis and a horizontal number line called the x-axis. These two number lines intersect and create four distinct areas called quadrants.

This lesson will discuss how to name a point on a coordinate grid and how to place a point using a given ordered pair in Quadrant One of a coordinate plane.

Before you begin, watch Using a Coordinate Grid | PBS LearningMedia, from Julie Rothbard, and pay attention to how the CyberSquad uses their maps:

• How do the students use a coordinate grid?

The students used a grid to help them find locations. Before you can bury your time capsule, you will need to learn the basics of using a grid on a coordinate plane.

This lesson will focus on Quadrant One of a coordinate plane.

To learn about quadrant one of a coordinate plane, watch Coordinate Planes: Plotting Points on a One Quadrant Graph from Real Math Solutions:

Now, try to answer the following questions before clicking on each to see if you were correct.

Before you move on, take a moment to review some important words that will help you today:

x-axis

The x-axis is the line on a graph that runs horizontally (left-right) through 0.

y-axis

The y-axis is the line on a graph that runs vertically (up-down) through 0.

ordered pair

An ordered pair is two numbers written in a certain order to identify a location on a coordinate grid usually written in parentheses like this: (4,5).

The "x" (horizontal) value is first, and the "y" (vertical) value is second.

origin

The origin is the starting point when plotting ordered pairs.

It is the point (0,0) on a coordinate grid.

coordinate plane

The coordinate plane contains the "x" axis and "y" axis.

Keep reading to see how you name a point on a coordinate grid.

The x-axis is the line that runs horizontally (left-right) through 0 on the grid.

The y-axis is the line that runs vertically (up-down) through 0 on the grid.

Ordered pairs are used to name and place points. The first number is the x-coordinate, and the second number is the y-coordinate.

The x-coordinate tells how many to count to the right from the origin. The y-coordinate tells how many to count up.

Take a look at an example:

Point A is at (3,2). Notice how the value of x is 3, which is the distance to the right from the origin. The value of y is 2, which is the distance up from the origin.

Now, place a point using a given ordered pair.

• If we wanted to plot the ordered pair (5,4), where would we start?

If you said start at the origin (0,0), you’re right. Since the x-coordinate is 5, count 5 units to the right. Since the y-coordinate is 4, count 4 units up. Put a point where the two lines intersect.

• Not ready to practice yet?

That’s OK. Review with the Step-By-Step Ordered Pairs activity by Scholastic Study Jams!

• Do you think you are ready to create your own map using a coordinate plane?

Go on to the Got It? section to practice and prepare to map out your time capsule!