Activity Overview
The students will be plotting points on the United States Map. This background and activity could be used and/or modified to fit any social studies class. Students could explore topics ranging from graphing coordinates in pre-algebra to identifying capitals of states in geography.
Before the Activity
TI-Navigator is required for this activity.
For more information visit: TI-Navigator
During the Activity
In mathematics, this mathematics activity could be used to talk about coordinate plane with students'. To begin the activity, the teacher could instruct the students' to pick a place that they would like to go in the USA. After the students' have selected their points, discuss students' ordered pairs and trends or patterns that they notice. For example, the teacher could ask which states have positive x and y coordinates.
In social studies, this activity could be used to have students identify geographic items such as capitals, rivers, mountains, deserts, and forests. The students could also be given individual cards with information that is specific to a particular state such as mascots, capitals, state flowers, etc.
Then the students would be asked to find the state that corresponds with their card and a class discussion could follow.
After the Activity
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary