Ordered Pairs on a Coordinate Plane Math Games

In this series of games, your students will learn that signs of numbers in ordered pairs as indicate locations in quadrants of the coordinate plane, and that when two ordered pairs differ only by signs, the locations of the points are related by reflections across one or both axes. The Ordered Pairs on a Coordinate Plane learning objective — based on CCSS and state standards — delivers improved student engagement and academic performance in your classroom, as demonstrated by research. This learning objective directly references 6.NS.C.6.b as written in the common core national math standards.

Scroll down for a preview of this learning objective’s games and the concepts.

Concepts Covered

Location is precisely described using the intersection of those lines and line segments. The coordinate plane is 2 perpendicular lines that serve as the starting point for describing the precise location. The horizontal line is labeled the x-axis and the vertical line is labeled the y-axis. The first number in an ordered pair is labeled the x coordinate and the second the y coordinate and is expressed as (x, y).

The x value determines the horizontal movement away from the origin with positive values denoting movement to the right of the origin and negative x values denoting movement to the left of the origin. The y value determines the vertical movement away from the origin with positive values denoting movement up from the origin and negative x values denoting movement down from the origin.

There are 4 quadrants on a coordinate grid. Quadrant I contains all coordinates in which x and y are positive (x, y). Quadrant II contains all coordinates where x is negative and y is positive (x, -y). Quadrant III contains all coordinates where x and y are negative (-x, -y), and Quadrant IV contains all coordinates where x is positive and y is negative (x, -y).

Coordinates with the same numbers but opposite signs are reflected across the axis. (x, y) and (-x, y) are reflected across the y-axis. The coordinates (x, y) and (x, -y) are reflected across the x-axis. And coordinates (x, y) and (-x, -y) is reflected across both axis referred to as reflected across the origin. Reflected across an axis refers to being in the same position (distance from the origin) on the opposite side of the axis.

A preview of each game in the learning objective is found below.

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