COORDINATE GRAPH PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS
GOAL:
To create a coordinate graph that includes both a picture and a related word with a listing of its
applicable coordinates.
MATERIALS:
GRAPH PAPER (I will supply if you need it)
WHITE PAPER
DIRECTIONS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Draw the X and Y axes with a ruler.
Label the axes.
Label each Quadrant at the upper right, upper left, lower left, and lower right.
Make sure that you use all four quadrants!
PICTURE PART OF THE GRAPH
This is your chance to be creative in math! Working in groups of four, you and your team
members need to decide upon a mascot for the 6th grade Math Honors’ classes. The mascot can
be almost anything as long as you tie it into math. It can be an animal, a car, an anthropomorphic
math symbol, or even a piece of fruit. If you are not that creative, plan out a grouping of
geometric shapes. You can even trace a drawing on to the graph paper, BUT REMEMBER
YOU WILL NEED EACH POINT ON YOUR DRAWING TO LIE ON A
COORDINATE ON THE GRAPH. So if you trace something, you will surely have to
modify it somewhat to make sure your points are on integer coordinates.
So draw the drawing first.
(Remember that you will need to leave room for the word part on the same page!)
After you’re satisfied with your drawing, you will then begin to list the applicable coordinates
that would allow anyone to recreate your drawing. Now comes the hard work: making a list of
your ordered pairs so that someone else can draw your word or word phrase:
a. On your graph, mark each coordinate point with a darkened point.
b. On your blank white sheet of paper, start listing your ordered pairs beginning with
the top left corner.
c. Decide which way you want to go from that first point (you can start clockwise or
counter clockwise – it doesn’t matter!)
d. Continue to list each coordinate until you want someone to lift up their pencil and
not join the next point. That’s when you write the word “STOP”.
e. Continue with the next part of your drawing until you are done.
f. Now, try out your coordinates yourself. You will be amazed at how you can
forget an important coordinate – or an important STOP!!!! Again, my advice is
that you try your coordinates yourself, using them to redraw the same picture to
see if you made any mistakes!
If you need a curved line, simply make several smaller straight line segments. When you
connect them, the small straight segments will appear curved.
WORD PART OF GRAPH:
YOUR WORD GRAPH MUST BE TIED INTO YOUR PICTURE GRAPH!
For example, one group could decide on a bear as their mascot and name their bear “AlgeBear.”
Another group might create a giraffe and name it Graphy, the Giraffe.
1. Pick a word or word phrase with at least 5 letters.
2. Plan it out on the graph paper.
3. Make sure each point of your letter ENDS UP ON A COORDINATE ON THE GRAPH
– NO HALVES!!!!!! [Example: Use (3,4) NOT (3 ½ , 4) ]
4. For longer word phrases, the best plan is to have more than one line of words:
i. For example:
GRAPHY,
HE GIRAFFE
THE GIRAFFE
4. For shorter words, you can use just one line.
For example:
ALGEBEAR
5. Or you can do something more creative:
For example: The Ring
H
E
T
R
G
I
N
CURVED LETTERS:
Students always ask how to make letters that are curved. You have several choices. For an O,
you may make a diamond. Or you may make a square. Or you may make an octagon (this is the
best but also takes the most coordinates – 8!)
Now comes the hard work again: making a list of your ordered pairs so that someone else can
draw your word or word phrase:
a. On your graph, mark each coordinate point with a darkened point.
b. On your blank white sheet of paper, start listing your ordered pairs beginning with the
first letter on the left. (Ex. The “G” in Graphy)
c. You continue to list each coordinate until you want someone to lift up their pencil and not
join the next point. That’s when you write “STOP”.
d. Continue with the next part of the letter until you are done with all the letters.
e. In the example above, to make someone draw a G, you would not need to say STOP until
they have completed the entire letter. But if they are making a “B”, you would need to
tell them to STOP after they drew the B’s base and then tell them to STOP when they
completed the rest.
f. Again, try out your coordinates yourself.
Your graph will be judged for accuracy of ordered pairs, STOPs, proper format (x,y), and
CREATIVITY (see grading rubric attached). Graphs will also be judged on NEATNESS!
Wobbly lines, lots of erasures (color hides those!), and scribbled coordinates will lose you
points!
THAT’S IT!
JUST GET STARTED!
YOU’LL SEE THIS IS ACTUALLY FUN!