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REMARKABLE IDEAS
Fire at These Coordinates
In this Remarkable Idea, students will work on plotting points on a graph,
and eventually determining the slope of a line from two points on a
graph.
This activity addresses:
• Cause and effect
•
Critical thinking
•
Math
•
Alternative methods of access
What you need:
•
Graph paper
•
Step-by-Step
•
TalkingBrix
•
Dry Erase board/Scratch paper/Index Cards
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Preparation:
1. Record the word “negative” to the TalkingBrix
2. Record “Y =” to the TalkingBrix
3. Record the numbers 0-5 on the Step-by-Step
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What to do:
Level 1
In this level, students are trying to sink ships that exist in either perpendicular or horizontal line segments.
1. Each student will get a small piece of graph paper. The “target area” should be 5 points in each
direction (100 possible coordinates).
2. Place a divider between students if they are seated near each other.
3. Students begin by placing their ships in either 2 dot line segment, 3 dot line segment, and 4 dot
line segment. Students can use the TalkingBrix and Step-by-Step to assist with placement by giving
coordinates (ex. the coordinate (-3,2) would be given by hitting the TalkingBrix to say the number is
negative, then step through the Step-by-Step until the number 3 is reached. For the number 2, the
student will cycle through the Step-by-Step until they come to the number 2.)
4. Begin the assault. Each student takes a turn choosing a coordinate to attack. Students use the
TalkingBrix and Step-by-Step to give coordinates.
5. Students continue to guess coordinates until all of the ships have been sunk. The ships must be hit on
all of their points to sink.
Level 2
In this level, students are trying to sink one ship that exists in a diagonal, horizontal, or vertical line.
1. In order to win, the students must give the slope-intercept formula for the line. The slope of the lines
should be limited to a numerator/denominator no greater/less than (-)2 or (-)3 or the game could last
extremely long.
2. Each student will get a small piece of graph paper. The “target area” is should be 5 points in each
direction (100 possible coordinates).
3. Place a divider between students if they are seated near each other.
4. Students begin by placing their ship (1 line, slope numerator/denominator no greater than (-)2 or (-)3.)
Students can use the TalkingBrix and Step-by-Step to assist with placement by giving coordinates (at
least 2 from their line) or they can give their equation using the TalkingBrix and Step-by-step.
Example: y = ½ - 3 would be:
TalkingBrix: Y=
Step-by-Step: 1
Step-by-Step: 2
TalkingBrix: negative
Step-by-Step: 3
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What to do (cont):
5. Begin the assault. Each student takes a turn choosing a coordinate to attack. Students use the
TalkingBrix and Step-by-Step to give coordinates.
6. Students continue to guess coordinate until one of them thinks they have found their opponents line
and can give it in slope-intercept form. To initiate this process they will hit the “Y =” TalkingBrix. If the
student is incorrect they lose a turn, if they are correct the game is over.
Tips to speed up games:
Tell each student which quadrants are empty on their opponents graphs (mention this may happen before
the game begins, it may change their strategy). You do not have to tell students which quadrant is which
(they should already know that anyway).
You may wish to make one hit on a ship be enough to sink it.
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