Battleship grids

Battleship grids

Auto-markingOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about using grids and grid references.
Lana is playing Battleships. She has four ships and a mine to place on her grid.

battleships grid

Here are the four ships Lana put on the grid.
The Aircraft Carrier is 5 squares long.
The Battleship is 4 squares long.
The Cruiser is 3 squares long.
The Submarine is 2 squares long.
The Mine is 1 square long. 

Question 2Change answer

a)  Give the grid reference of the square that is the mine

Question 2Change answer

b)  Give the grid reference of the square that is between the Submarine and the Cruiser. 

Question Change answer

c)  Move each of the two co-ordinates to the correct position on the grid.

Drag and drop image target

Question Change answer

d) Move the explosion ( ) so it lands on the middle of the aircraft carrier (which is 5 squares long).

e) Move the small bomb ( ) so it is between F5 and H7.

Drag and drop image target
Task administration: 
This task can be completed online with auto-marking displayed to students.
Level:
3
Keywords: 
Description of task: 
Students give grid references, and drag and drop grid references onto a grid.
Curriculum Links: 
Key competencies
This resource involves communicating information and ideas using mathematics and  interpreting visual representations, both of which relate to the Key competency: Using language, symbols and text. 
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
   
Y6 (10/2013)
a)
F2 or some correct derivation.
[Accept 2F but indicate to students the convention for the order of grid references] 
very easy
b)
D7 or some correct derivation.
[Accept 7D but indicate to students the convention for the order of grid references] 
moderate
c)
B3 located correctly
G9 located correctly
very easy
d) Explosion located at I4 very easy
e) Bomb located at G6 easy
a) - e)
All 6 correct
5 or more correct
4 or more correct
difficult
easy
very easy
 
Based on an online sample of 68 Year 6 students.
Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Likely misconception Next steps
b) A square adjacent to D7 e.g., D6, C6, etc. or
e) A square adjacent to G6 e.g., F6, H6, etc.
Students identify a square that is close to, but not exactly between the two given squares
Students could be encouraged look more closely to check the accuracy of their answer, and give the square that is most precisely between the two given squares.
Playing the game Battleships can reinforce understanding of how grid references and the need for accuracy.
d) G6
e) I4
Transposes the answers
As above students could be encouraged to re-check their answers.