Activity Overview
The student will graph ordered pairs on a coordinate plane and use graphing to solve problems involving cartography.
Before the Activity
If you are using the TI-Navigator System with the TI-73 you will need the attached .pdf file.
The worksheet attached can be your opener. This allows the students to label a graph and have notes in front of them to use as you continue the lesson.
During the Activity
After discussing the coordinate plane have the students log in to their calculators and go to the Activity Center.
In the Activity Center allow the students to submit points, if it is a large class only allow them to send one point on the coordinate plane.
Once they are ready then ask them to put a point in a specific quadrant, axis, origin, etc.. You can do a count down (5,4,3,2,1) to give them time to get where you want them to put their point.
After the Activity
There is an attached worksheet to check for understanding or you can use your material for assessing the students knowledge.
To extend the activity (before class go to mapquest or another map type website, pick a map of your town, state, or wherever you would like.
Load it to the background of you coordinate plane) Have students find the coordinates of a certain city, lake, river, or mountain. (You may want to use a grid for this exercise.) They will see the relationship between the coordinates and a map.