INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING GRIDS.LGO


1.  If you are reading this using Windows Notepad, make sure you have activated Word Wrap (from the Edit menu).


2.  The file GRIDS.LGO contains a number of logo procedures for use with MSW LOGO.  If you haven't got MSW LOGO then you are missing out on a very good package which is completely free.  
    It can be downloaded at
		www.softronix.com


3.  Start MSW LOGO.  From the File menu select Load.  Go to the location where you have saved GRIDS.LGO, select the file and click on Open.


4.  The file contains procedures which produce a blank co-ordinates grid on the screen.
    Three different sizes of grid can be produced.
    Use the grid which fits appropriately on your screen.
    This will depend on the screen resolution you are using and the size of your monitor.
    To produce the grids, type one of the following in the Commander window and press Enter.
        SMALLGRID
        MEDGRID
        BIGGRID


5.  Once the grid is displayed on the screen you can shade any of the cells by typing in the appropriate grid reference, for example type in
        B 5
        H 2
        E 7  and so on.
    NOTE:  The space between the letter and number is required.


6.  The main purpose of these procedures is to enable the teacher to use LOGO as a teaching resource i.e. they are designed to teach pupils about grid references using numbers and letters, not to teach them about the LOGO language.  Use the procedures to demonstrate and discuss these sorts of grid references with the whole class (this is possible, even with only a 14 or 15 inch monitor, but a bigger monitor or projector is even better).

  
7.  Here are a few examples of the sorts of things you could demonstrate and discuss with the whole class.

    Produce a blank grid on the screen.
    Ask pupils what they think the numbers and letters mean.
    Point to a cell on the grid and ask pupils how we could identify or label it.
    Discuss the concept of a grid reference using the numbers and letters.
    Use language such as 'rows', 'columns', 'vertical', 'horizontal', etc.
    Type the grid reference into the Commander window and press Enter (or get a pupil to do it).
    Repeat this by pointing at other cells on the grid.
    Also work in reverse i.e. call out a grid reference and ask a pupil to come out and point at that cell.
    Also ask other questions for example:
      "What is the grid reference of the cell to the right of the blue cell?"
      "What is the grid reference of the cell 2 squares below the red cell?"
      


I hope you find these procedures valuable in your maths teaching.
Let me know how you get on.

Richard English
www.numeracysoftware.com
feedback@numeracysoftware.com