Four Points in a Row

Focus Questions Can you use your logic and good strategies to beat your partner in a game of Four Points in a Row? Can you match up four ordered pairs to four points on a grid?

Materials 1 inch graph paper notebook paper ½ sheet of construction paper 2 different colored markers to draw two draw 2 different colored shapes

Procedure Choose 1 marker and decide on a shape you can easily draw to represent your marks on the 1 inch graph paper. Your partner should do the same. You! Your Partner!

Procedure 3. Take turns with your partner plotting points on the 1 inch graph paper using the shape you picked. As you do, write down the ordered pairs for the points you plot on notebook paper.

Procedure The first partner to get Four Points in a Row wins the game. Be sure to plot your points like this: Not like this:

Let’s Get Started! 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y Number your 1 inch graph paper like this to make a coordinate plane:

Let’s play a practice game! Teacher vs. Class Let’s play a practice game! 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y

Let’s play a practice game! Teacher vs. Class Let’s play a practice game! Don’t forget to write down the ordered pairs for the points you plot! 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y

Now play with your partner! 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y

When you have a winner... (1,4) (2,3) (3,2) (4,1) Get another piece of 1 inch graph paper. Create another coordinate grid like the one below. Plot just the WINNING 4 POINTS on it. Draw large black dots to represent them. Like this: Write the ordered pairs for the winning points in large numbers using markers on the construction paper. Like this: 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y (1,4) (2,3) (3,2) (4,1)

When you are done making these... Using Scotch tape, post these grids on the wall or the board. Give these to your teacher! 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y (1,4) (2,3) (3,2) (4,1)

Turn and talk at your table. Let’s take a look at these. How are they the same? How are they different? How might we sort them? Turn and talk at your table. 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y

Let’s do it! Let’s rearrange them and sort them into groups. 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 x y

Now. let’s try to match these up to the points you plotted Now...let’s try to match these up to the points you plotted. Don’t tell anyone which ones are yours! No fair! (1,4) (2,3) (3,2) (4,1) Use Scotch tape and place the ordered pairs beside the matching points/grids.

Let’s Talk! What have you learned about coordinate planes and ordered pairs today?

Science/Math Connection Remember – in order to know where we are as we move around on Earth, or our position, scientists of all kinds, plot their location using grids and ordered pairs. We use latitude and longitude grids to navigate the earth, for example. There are grids on every kind of map.