Education Technology


Coordinate Plane

Activity Overview

In this activity, students use the pen feature of the calculator to draw geometric shapes in a coordinate plane.

Before the Activity

  • Set up the calculator as explained in the activity
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print the pages from the attached PDF file for the class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Select the Pen feature and place the cursor at (0, 0) in the coordinate plane
  • Use the arrow keys and move the cursor to the desired point
  • Use the pen feature to draw line segments and complete the figure
  • Describe the shape and the location of the figure
  • Find what a similar geometric shape would look like
  • Write the characteristics of a similar shape on paper and then draw the shape on the coordinate plane alongside the original drawing
  • Use the Pen feature to draw a square
  • Use the Pen feature to find the coordinates of the point that is 5 to the left of and 20 up from point (15, -11)
  • After the Activity

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary