Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes
Coordinates in all four quadrants
Geometry
CCSS 6.NS.C.6CCSS 6.NS.C.8CCSS 6.G.A.3England: Y6 GeometryEngland: KS3 Geometry
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Coordinates in all four quadrants.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Coordinates in the first quadrant; Negative numbers and absolute value
Leads to: Distance and midpoint between points; Translations, reflections and rotations; Slope (gradient) of a line
Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Coordinates in the first quadrant; Negative numbers and absolute value). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
- Share the objective: Coordinates in all four quadrants. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: In which quadrant is the point (−8, 7)?
- Step 1: x is negative, y is positive: quadrant II.
- Answer: II
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- In which quadrant is the point (5, 9)? (I / II / III / IV) → IPrompt: Quadrants are numbered anticlockwise starting top right.
- In which quadrant is the point (−5, −7)? (I / II / III / IV) → IIIPrompt: Quadrants are numbered anticlockwise starting top right.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- In which quadrant is the point (6, −8)? (I / II / III / IV) → IVPrompt: Quadrants are numbered anticlockwise starting top right.
- In which quadrant is the point (−1, −2)? (I / II / III / IV) → IIIPrompt: Quadrants are numbered anticlockwise starting top right.
Watch out for
- Thinking a square turned on its corner is no longer a square.
- Reading the wrong scale on a protractor.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Coordinates in the first quadrant.
- Use concrete materials: rulers and protractors.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Distance and midpoint between points; Translations, reflections and rotations; Slope (gradient) of a line.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-6.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder