Whizara's innovative coordinate geometry course explores math concepts via digital platforms (spreadsheets) and Scratch coding games. Students learn the basics of the Cartesian plane, explore the classification and hierarchy of 2D shapes and solve real-world problems involving coordinates, two-dimensional shapes, associated mensuration, length and distance measurement and units and fraction operations. The course further teaches using Google spreadsheets, and integrates coding, computational thinking and design thinking to take the engagement and outcome of learning math to the next level. A Chromebook or any computer/PC with internet connectivity is required to join the course.
COURSE DURATION:
Course Outline
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Project 1 - Spreadsheet Coordinates:
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Students use a spreadsheet interface to plot points and create and replicate shapes. In this process, they understand the basics of coordinate geometry and geometry.
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● Lesson 1 - Introduction to the Coordinate plane: Students understand the concept of the Cartesian plane, the 'x' and & 'y' axes, and the values of points on the axis.
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● Lesson 2 - Coordinate Figures 1: Students explore a spreadsheet interface. They learn to create 'line' charts and plot points in their spreadsheet.
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● Lesson 3 - Coordinate Figures 2: Students create different shapes by plotting points in their line charts. They understand the concept of closed and open shapes.
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Project 2: The Coordinates Game:
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Students explore the Scratch programming interface and play a game that involves intimate knowledge of Scratch coordinates. In this process, they explore coordinates in all four quadrants of the Coordinate Plane. The game involves an explorer sprite and a gold sprite. The gold sprite appears randomly on the stage. The player needs to use coordinates to direct the explorer to the gold before it disappears. A player scores when a gold sprite is collected.
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● Lesson 1: Introduction to Scratch: Students explore the Scratch user interface. They understand how the stage/backdrop and sprites work together to create animations and games. They explore basic sprite movements and control structures used to move sprites.
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● Lesson 2: Scratch Coordinates: Students learn to identify points on the Scratch stage using ‘x’ and ‘y’ coordinates. They explore the extent of the Scratch stage. They use sequences and iterations to make a sprite appear randomly at points in a specific region of the stage. They use ‘event based’ programming to move a sprite using keyboard bindings.
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● Lesson 3: The Coordinate Game 1: Students play the coordinate game and break it down into smaller blocks with discrete actions. They design the ‘look’ of the game by adding sprites and backdrops. They start the development process by understanding how lists can be used to store items or elements (in this case,
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coordinates).
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● Lesson 4: The Coordinate Game 2: Students start coding for the coordinates game. They complete coding for the ‘gold’ sprite’s behavior. They also add button sprites which are used to define the ‘explorer’s’ target coordinates.
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● Lesson 5: The Coordinate Game 3: Students complete coding for the coordinates game. They use variables to track player score and to store the target coordinates. They complete coding for how the ‘explorer’ behaves and add code to the buttons that direct the explorer towards its target. They understand how control structures, sequences, loops, and variables were used in the development of the game while
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reinforcing their understanding of coordinate geometry.
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Project 3 - Prospecting with Geometry
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Students use spreadsheets, Scratch and math-platforms such as Desmos and Geogebra to apply concepts of geometry and mensuration as applied to two-dimensional figures such as triangles and quadrilaterals. They then apply these concepts in Scratch to create an application that can draw and scale different two-
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dimensional shapes.
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● Lesson 1 - Lines and Angles: Explore lines, rays and line segments by plotting them on spreadsheets. Understand the concept of angles, and explore acute, obtuse and straight angles. Understand right angles and explore parallel and perpendicular lines.
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● Lesson 2 - Triangles and Quadrilaterals: Students play the role of prospectors and use geometry to define boundaries of gold mines on virtual maps. They explore shapes such as triangles, squares, rectangles and parallelograms. They learn to calculate the area and perimeter of these 2-Dimensional figures.
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● Lesson 3 - Intelligent Shapes I: Create an intelligent shape program in Scratch that draws shapes based on geometric instructions. Students are challenged to ideate for and design an application to draw different two-dimensional shapes, calculate various measurements, and scale the image as required.
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● Lesson 4 - Intelligent Shapes II: Students solve real world problems involving mensuration, fractional multiplication and decimal numbers while designing, prototyping and evaluating the Intelligent Shapes project.

Coordinate Geometry Scratch Spreadsheets
Gr 4-5

Approved for Standards Alignment


Approved for Quality PD

Member
Jake H, Principal, St Johns Lutheran
"We have had students interested in coding, but did not have staff with content knowledge to teach it. Whizara did a wonderful job of providing the curriculum and the expertise to give our students great success with their first experience in coding. The students grew tremendously throughout the class, as the instructor was kind, knowledgeable and related well with the students. The scope and sequence of the curriculum was excellent and I couldn’t believe how much progress the students made in just 10 weeks. Our school looks forward to working with Whizara again in the future! "
Hattie M, Founder, Crete Academy
"Whizara program further developed our students' creativity. Using the program not only taught them coding but also critical thinking and reasoning skills that go beyond coding and support students in all subjects. "
Cindy J, Principal, Santa Fe Springs Christian School