Coordinate system
Spatial orientation, understanding directions and working with coordinates
- 11+ years
- Group size: 10+
- Duration: 30 min
- Alternative physical activities
- Gym / Sports hall
- Indoor
- Open space
- Chalk
Draw a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis on the asphalt with chalk. Each participant is given a number on either the x- or the y-axis and stands by “their” number.
One person is chosen to be the “living piece” and moves to different points in the coordinate system. When the living piece, for example, stands at the point (3,4), the child/pupil standing at number 3 on the x-axis and the one standing at number 4 on the y-axis must call out: “3, 4!”
The living piece continues moving between different points in the coordinate system so that the path eventually forms a geometric shape. The others must guess which shape it is.
Variation
When the living piece moves to a new point, the people at that point must perform a specific movement. For example, when the living piece moves to (3,4), the person at 3 on the x-axis says “three” while doing three jumping jacks, and the person at 4 on the y-axis does four.
The living piece can move from point to point by jumping with feet together.