2010-11 Engaging Students in Learning Mathematics Grant (6-8) Recipient

Let's Get Coordinated!

This plan proposes the permanent, professional installation of a 20 by 30 foot tiled Cartesian coordinate plane within the confines of the Commons Area of Southeast Bulloch Middle School. This coordinate plane will be available for the hands-on instruction of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade mathematics students and available for potential use for the integration of mathematical concepts in the areas of science, language arts, and social studies. The purpose of this project is to enable middle grades mathematics students to truly experience the Cartesian coordinate plane by walking along each axis and by using ordinary blocks of tile as concrete, real-life measuring units while solving seemingly complicated problems. Virtually unlimited activities are available through teacher-made, commercial, Internet-based, and textbook-related sources. Additionally a notebook of teacher-made activities and performance tasks will be developed by the facilitator of the project.