Getting Started in the Classroom with Navigation Activities
Prior
to engaging in this activity, students should experience classroom
navigation activities—for instance, drawing simple pictures or diagrams
to represent paths they might walk, such as a path from a table to the
door and later from their classroom to the playground. They can write a
set of directions for a classmate to move around the room, test the
directions, and talk about the results and any modifications that should
be made to their plan. Such activities help students make their ideas
about navigation explicit. Through these experiences, students use
mathematics in understanding space when they say, "Turn right" or "Go
forward eight steps." Using computer activities such as Hiding Ladybug
can support, extend, and connect the development of these mathematical
ideas.
Task
The ladybug hears someone coming and wants to hide. Your task is to plan
a path that will take the ladybug to a hiding place under the leaf.
Click on the direction buttons to plan a path the ladybug could take to
hide under the leaf. Click on the "Play" button to see if the path
works. The ladybug leaves a trail, so you can see the connection between
the mathematical movement commands and the resulting path.
Challenge
- Can you create a plan for a path using fewer steps?
- Can you create a plan for the shortest possible path?