The note
How schools teach it now
Schools say 'along the corridor, then up the stairs': the x-coordinate (across) comes first, then y (up or down). Year 6 uses all four quadrants, so negative coordinates appear.
5-minute kitchen-table activity
Draw a grid from −5 to 5 each way on squared paper. Play battleships: each of you hides three ships and calls out coordinates to find the other's.
Worked example
A square has corners at (1, 1), (5, 1) and (5, 5). Where is the fourth corner?
- The side from (1, 1) to (5, 1) is 4 squares long.
- The missing corner is straight above (1, 1), at the same height as (5, 5).
- So x = 1 and y = 5.
Answer: (1, 5)
Common mistakes to watch for
- Giving the y-coordinate before the x-coordinate.
- Counting squares instead of reading the numbered lines.
- Losing the minus sign in the negative quadrants.
Encouragement
- Try saying
- “Along the corridor first, then up the stairs.”
- Rather than
- “You've got it backwards again.”