Coordinates Connected to Create Pictures

We made the direct connection between coordinate points and art. Students were asked to plot points on a Cartesian Plane and then connect them in order. When they reach a Stop sign at the end of a shape this means that you should not connect the last shape with the next shape.

The key to plotting points is remembering that we read each coordinate (x,y) by plotting the first number on the x-axis which is the horizontal axis and then the second number on the y-axis which is the vertical axis. I like to think of this as first finding your elevator which can be found on the zeroth floor and then going up for positive y values and go down for negative y values.

I provided the children with dozens of lists of coordinates that together would become wonderful pictures like Abe Lincoln, Santa Claus, Owl, Sailboat, and Mario in the first quadrant. This means that these will only have positive x values and positive y values. In four quadrants, I provided pictures of the Lorax, Bambi, Batman, The Beatles, Betty Boop, Bugs Bunny, Bulldog, Bunny with Balloons, Charlie Brown, the Creation of Adam, Daffy Duck, Elmo, Foghorn Leghorn, Lady and the Tramp, Linus, Mickey Mouse, Panda Bear, Pillsbury Dough Boy, Snoopy, Superman Logo, Tasmanian Devil, Tigger, Tweety, Winnie the Pooh, and Woodstock. These pictures have a range of difficulty of Level 1-8. Work on the easier levels until you develop a mastery and then move on to a more challenging picture. One pdf has all 31 pictures and the other has 23 pictures from Levels 1-3. Each picture indicates which type of paper to use: either horizontal or vertical. The third pdf attached here provided both types of paper as well as the first quadrant paper.

We also looked at a dozen of pictures created by students.

There also is a document for K-1st graders that uses the first quadrant only. The K children asked me for more pictures so I created a Butterfly, Knight’s Moves, and Sailing. 

I will look forward to seeing all of the children's’ pictures when we return from vacation. I recommend that they color the picture after completion. 

Be careful when you go from one quadrant to the next.