teaching resource

Coordinate Plane Activity — Four Quadrant Sort

Updated: 08 Oct 2024

Introduce this coordinate plane activity to students to enhance their skills in identifying ordered pairs in all four quadrants.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 1 Page
Grades: 5 - 6

Curriculum

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.G.A.1

Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numb...
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.C.6

Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Extend number line diagrams and coordinate axes familiar from previous grades to represent points on the line and in the plane with negative number coordinates.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.C.6.B

Understand signs of numbers in ordered pairs as indicating locations in quadrants of the coordinate plane; recognize that when two ordered pairs differ only by signs, the locations of the points are related by reflections across one or both axes.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.C.6.C

Find and position integers and other rational numbers on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram; find and position pairs of integers and other rational numbers on a coordinate plane.

teaching resource

Coordinate Plane Activity — Four Quadrant Sort

Updated: 08 Oct 2024

Introduce this coordinate plane activity to students to enhance their skills in identifying ordered pairs in all four quadrants.

Editable: Google Slides
Non-Editable: PDF
Pages: 1 Page
Grades: 5 - 6

Introduce this coordinate plane activity to students to enhance their skills in identifying ordered pairs in all four quadrants.

A Coordinate Plane Activity for Hands-On Practice

Looking for a coordinate plane activity with exposure to all four quadrants? You’ve found it! In this engaging card sort, students will decide if each ordered pair belongs in quadrant one, two, three, four, or if the point lies on the x or y axis.

This resource includes:

32 sorting cards
Quadrant mat
Recording sheet
Answer key

This coordinate plane activity can be completed individually or in small groups, making it ideal for centers, small groups, or independent practice.

What Are the Four Quadrants on a Coordinate Plane?

The cards in this activity can be sorted into four different quadrants or on one of two axes. So what are they?

Quadrant 1: Lies in the upper right of the Q4 plane. Both x and y coordinates will be positive. Example: (4, 5)
Quadrant 2: Lies in the upper left of the Q4 plane. The x coordinate will be negative and the y coordinate will be positive. Example: (-2, 7)
Quadrant 3: Lies in the lower left of the Q4 plane. Both x and y coordinates will be negative. Example: (-3, -6)
Quadrant 4: Lies in the lower right of the Q4 plane. The x coordinate will be positive and the y coordinate will be negative. Example: (1, -8)
x – axis: The horizontal line with a y value of zero. All points on this line will have 0 value for y. Example: (-3, 0)
y – axis: The vertical line with an x value of zero. All points on this line will have a 0 value for x. Example: (0, 9)

Easily Print, Cut, and Play!

This coordinate plane activity is available in both easy-to-print PDF and Google Slides format. Use the drop-down arrow on the download button to choose the option that best suits your classroom.

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Four Quadrant Resources

We have more coordinate plane activities where this one came from! Here are some of our favorites:

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Coordinate Grids Mystery Pictures

Practice plotting on coordinate grids with this set of differentiated mystery pictures.

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Ordered Pairs Match-Up

Practice plotting ordered pairs and describing the process for graphing with this match-up activity.

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Coordinate Grid Worksheets — Plotting and Perimeter

Provide your students with these coordinate grid worksheets to help them master plotting and perimeter on the coordinate plane.

Curriculum

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.G.A.1

Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numb...
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.C.6

Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Extend number line diagrams and coordinate axes familiar from previous grades to represent points on the line and in the plane with negative number coordinates.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.C.6.B

Understand signs of numbers in ordered pairs as indicating locations in quadrants of the coordinate plane; recognize that when two ordered pairs differ only by signs, the locations of the points are related by reflections across one or both axes.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.NS.C.6.C

Find and position integers and other rational numbers on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram; find and position pairs of integers and other rational numbers on a coordinate plane.

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