This week's lessons on integers and their applications included drawing vector diagrams on grid paper. The students were given a very brief lesson on the use of a magnetic compass and then required to use the compass and a measuring tape to perform an activity that modeled the classroom lessons.

The activity translated those skills into real application. Each student group was provided the instructions for a series of vectors and were required to actually do this on the ground, i.e. go 75 feet east, 20 feet south, 40 feet north, and 10 feet west. They were then required to find the resultant vector (distance and direction from their starting point).

The groups performed very well and when they returned to the classroom they drew a vector diagram on grid papers. All groups had excellent results. The results on the ground were very close to the expected results determined in the classroom.