Coordinates - PowerPoint

In Year 4 Geometry, students embark on a journey to understand the concept of coordinates within a 2-D grid. The lesson aims to teach children how to accurately describe a position using coordinates, a fundamental skill used in a variety of applications such as maps and planning layouts. Coordinates consist of two numbers that represent a point on the grid, with the first number indicating the horizontal position (across) and the second the vertical position (up). These numbers are always presented in an ordered pair and enclosed within brackets, like (2,4), where '2' is the x-coordinate and '4' is the y-coordinate.

To help students grasp the concept, the lesson employs a simple analogy: entering a house involves first moving along the corridor (x-axis) and then going up the stairs (y-axis). This visualisation aids in remembering the correct order of coordinates. The teaching resources guide students through the process of locating a position by starting at the origin (0,0), moving across the x-axis, and then ascending the y-axis, emphasising that the horizontal movement always precedes the vertical. Students then apply this knowledge in a series of interactive exercises where they identify the coordinates of various items and characters presented on different slides, reinforcing their understanding of navigating a 2-D grid using coordinates.