~View other students on their exciting journey or look at some wonderful examples on the student page~

Make a folder out of construction paper. Entitle it "Cartesian Coordinate Grid." Keep all of your learned information in it.

Before you and your parents rent a plane to explore the world outside of your community, you have much preparation to do!!!

Your teacher will pair you up with a student from another class or a student from your class with whom you don't usually work. Since there are just 2 of you working together (maybe 3 in some cases), your roles are simple... take turns with the computer and equally share ideas!

1. You need to find out who invented the Cartesian Coordinate Grid, an invention that will aid in keeping your plane on the right path and out of other planes' way. You and your partner need to read about a man named Rene Descartes (pg. 1, pg. 2) who was lying in bed with an illness and studied his ceiling. Individually, but with help from each other, you will write or type a summary about what you have learned. The summary must include from where the information came and main ideas only. Put this in your folder.

2. Learning how to read and use coordinate grids is really fun and actually pretty easy. You and your shoulder buddy will learn how to do this by following this tutorial. Keep in mind, that you will only be using positive numbers or quadrant I. If you need more help, try this second tutorial.

3. Enjoy a video tutorial. You will need headphones.

4 . With your partner, practice your newly learned skill with this interactive game.

5. Now, by yourself, you need to practice with identifying locations of plotted points and plot points of given locations by printing and completing a set of worksheets. Have your shoulder buddy or your teacher check your work. If you think you need more practice, try this fun sheet. Keep the finished products in your folder.

6. You are getting closer to your wonderful adventure. Meet back with your partner to examine the atlases in you classroom. Each state has its own page. To find a particular spot on each state's map, you will probably use a letter and a number to identify a particular area. Some atlases only use lines of latitude and lines of longitude to locate places. Is there a specific state or city that you really like? An atlas does not show outside of the United States , but soon you will get to see the whole world using an aerial view.

Look up information about several cities, states, and countries in an encyclopedia. Jot down some interesting facts about one of your chosen locations and add this to your folder.

7. The last step in your preparation process is picking your favorite area in the world based on views from above. You decide take a virtual tour of the world.

Play and investigate this wonderful site.

Then, you and your partner will take turns typing in your address under "location" and see where you live in this huge world. You can actually see your home if you zoom in under "aerial view' and then "bird's eye view."

Pick several areas where you would like to travel...You can pick road map, but eventually switch to aerial view, so you can take pictures all around the world. Just click the magnifying glass to zoom in to an area. The view will be in color until you get very close...it will change to black and white. If you get a "camera" picture, just back out one click. You can only get a "bird's eye" view if you are in an area where people live.

You and your shoulder buddy will now temporarily separate and join your parents for a wonderful adventure. Pack your bags and get to the airport!! Don't forget your camera!! Check in, board the plane, buckle up, and tell the pilot where you want to travel.

8. Using your "mental notes" from the virtual tour, tell your pilot where you'd like to fly. (Since you are probably sharing a computer, partners can help each other quickly locate the appropriate places.)

Each of you will print the spot that you have chosen from your aerial view (it will NOT print from bird's eye view).

Identify and sketch those landmarks or the topography onto this grid paper (size is set, click PDF Download, click "open," and go to print). On the grid paper, create a 27 x 27 coordinate grid using numbers on both the horizontal and vertical axes. Plot 10-20 coordinates on your drawing. This is your "paper" copy. Add this to your folder.

Read Option 1 and Option 2 before traveling further.

Option 1:

With your partner, you are going to make a coordinate grid to plot the points from your drawing using Microsoft Excel. You will need to print the directions to aid you in using an excel program. Minimize this screen, so that you can open the excel program. You may need to click "start," click on "all programs," find Microsoft Office, and then click on "Microsoft Excel."

Option 2:

If you are new to using excel and not ready for that challenge, you may use an online grid to plot the points from your drawing. If you use this pre made coordinate grid, you will have to write your (x,y) coordinates on a small piece of paper before plotting the points. You will then have to tape or glue it the grid after you print it.

Be sure to print and save a copy no matter which way you have chosen to complete your project. Add this to your folder.

9. Hope you have had a wonderful flight!! You may unbuckle your seat belt and exit the plane to rejoin your partner. On your journey, you have learned that coordinate grids are used for plane travel and map making.

Did you know that to make animation, coordinate points are used? With your shoulder buddy, explore and make a list of 5 other ways in which coordinate grids might be used. Keep this list in your folder.

*If you finish early, why don't you use your super knowledge of coordinate grids and play Battleship (will need to print).

Extended Activity:

You and your partner had so much fun practicing and "traveling" with coordinate grids that you might want to share this with other classes. You will now use your list of "Coordinate Grid Uses" to convince others of the importance of learning this skill.

Two groups will combine and set up a time to visit with other classes, either in the same grade level or one higher or lower. You can show them your sketches, your coordinate grids, and explain your uses of coordinate grids.