Coordinates and Integers
This unit has two parallel intentions: exploring positive and negative numbers, and introducing the children to coordinates. We begin by looking at the number system in relation to integers (positive and negative numbers). Students are asked to demonstrate the ability to use positive and negative numbers in realistic context problems and to interpret the meanings of positive and negative answers (e.g. temperature above and below zero, credits/debits.) In order to do this they will create and use number lines to represent integers.Once the concept of positive and negative numbers is established, students will be introduced to the coordinates system. Students will learn to plot points and read values of integers in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane; generate and graph ordered pairs and plot points in the four quadrants.
Key questions
- What is the coordinate system and how does it work?
- How can we use coordinates to find and describe specific locations?
- When are negative numbers used and why are they important?
Once students understand that positive and negative numbers can describe both direction and position on a number line, they can begin to add and subtract integers to solve problems.
Temperature, money, altitude and timelines are all notions where being comfortable with the way positive and negative numbers relate can be very useful.
Being able to graph points in the four quadrants of the coordinate plane is the next step.
This shows that students understand how coordinate systems represent relationships between sets of numbers. This then allows children to achieve important things like plotting cats!
