Introduction to the Coordinate Plane and Plotting Points                                                                6/20/08

Subject: Algebra                                                                                                                Eleanor Mathis

(Modified from a lesson plan originally submitted by Heather Kimmel)

Approximate Time:

50 minutes

Objectives:

The student will identify the axes and quadrants of the coordinate plane (DOK 1)

The students will use ordered pairs to plot points in the coordinate plane (DOK 1)

Materials:

Overhead projector, dry erase board, dry erase markers, pencils, paper, textbooks, to giant coordinate grade, homework handout, graph paper

Set:  The teacher will ask for two volunteers.  The teacher will blindfold one of the students and hand him/her a dry erase marker. TTW draw a dot on the board and direct the blind folded students hand with the marker to the board.  The teacher will direct the other volunteer to give the student verbal directions to move his/her so that he/she will trace a line to the dot on the board.  There will be a caveat though, the director will only be able to say, “left,” “right,” and “a little more.”  Since the student will not be able to say “up” or “down,” this activity will be impossible.  After the students give up, the teacher will redo the activity, this time including the words “up” and “down.”  On successful completion of the lesson the teacher will explain that in the last lesson students were graphing the solutions to inequalities on a number line, which was good because we only had one variable.  However, sometimes we have two variables and we need to go up and down in addition to left in right.  In this lesson the students will review the coordinate plane.

Prep:  Name, date, objectives, agenda, and warm up on the board when students enter the class. 

Procedures:

Do Now: (6 minutes) The teacher will have the students solve an inequality and graph the solution on a number line.  The teacher will collect the students’ papers and go over the answers.

Set  (4 minutes)

A.    Review the Axes and the Quadrants (3 minutes) (notes)

    a.    The teacher will give the students a blank sheet of graph paper and have them label the axes with x and y, and the quadrants with roman numerals as she does the same on the overhead.

B.    Plot Points (10 minutes)

    a.    The teacher will review with the students what an ordered pair is.  The teacher will review with the students how to plot points.  The teacher will give the students a list of points to plot and label on their papers.  While students are finishing up, the teacher will invite students who have finished to the board to plot the points.  The teacher will give the students time correct any errors.  The students will add this paper to their notes.

C.    Constructing a Giant Coordinate Plane  (14 minutes)

    a.    The teacher will tell the students that they are about to go out into the hallway to construct a giant coordinate plane. The teacher will remind students that the same rules apply in the hallway as do in the classroom, and if students get off-task, they will have to return immediately to the classroom.  The teacher will remind the students that this is a group task and they will have to communicate.  Everyone should bring their A-game and strive to be a team player. When the class is in the hallway, the teacher will give students tape and paper with numbers on them to construct the coordinate plane.   After the plane has been constructed the teacher will hand out circles that have order pairs on the back.  The students will “plot the points” to form a graphic.

D.    Independent Work/Homework  (10 minutes)

    a.    The teacher will give students a worksheet that requires them to plot points and connect the points to form a picture.

    b.    Extra-credit.  Students will get a bonus point for coloring their pictures.  (time permitting:) Students will get an extra homework grade if they make their own picture AND give the directions for how to make it.

Closure: (3 min)

    1)    TTW review the objectives

    2)    The teacher will ask the students what methods they prefer for remembering how the quadrants labeled and how to plot points.

    3)    TTW tell students that the following day they will need to use the coordinate plane some more when they start to learn about plotting linear functions.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Informal: The teacher will walk around and observe the students’ progress during guided/independent practice (M) to determine how well use ordered pairs to plot points in the coordinate plane (C).

Formal: The teacher correct and grade the students homework the following day  (M) to determine how well students use ordered pairs to plot points in the coordinate plane (C) and record the grade in the grade book (D).

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