Maths · Colouring and write-the-answer worksheet
Treasure Map Coordinates: Free First-Quadrant Worksheet (KS2)
This free printable worksheet helps Year 4 children practise one of the trickier ideas in the position and direction strand: describing where things are on a 2-D grid using coordinates in the first quadrant. A friendly pirate treasure map turns abstract grid references into a purposeful hunt, which is often what makes the skill finally click.
The single most common error at this stage is reversing the two numbers, so every task here reinforces the same rule: read and write coordinates in the order (across, then up). The sheet is designed to print cleanly onto one A4 page, so it works equally well at the kitchen table or as a quick classroom starter.
Treasure Map Coordinates
Free Maths worksheet · Ages 8 to 9
Read and write the coordinates
Look at the treasure map grid. Remember the rule: read coordinates as (across, up). Write your answers on the lines. Use the word bank to help you spell the map features.
Write the coordinate that tells you how far ACROSS to move, then how far UP. Which two numbers come first and second?
What do we call the bottom-left corner of the grid where both numbers are 0?
A friend writes the treasure chest as (2, 6). Explain in your own words what the 2 and the 6 mean.
Why is it wrong to swap the numbers and write (6, 2) instead of (2, 6)?
Colour the treasure map
Use the colours below to bring your map to life as you read the grid.
- Colour the palm tree leaves green and the trunk brown.
- Colour the sailing ship's sails red.
- Colour the treasure chest yellow with a brown lid.
- Colour the curving dotted path in your favourite colour to show the route across the grid.
Treasure Map Coordinatesowee.worldAnswer key
- Write the coordinate that tells you how far ACROSS to move, then how far UP. Which two numbers come first and second? — The across number comes first, then the up number, written as (across, up).
- What do we call the bottom-left corner of the grid where both numbers are 0? — The origin, at (0, 0).
- A friend writes the treasure chest as (2, 6). Explain in your own words what the 2 and the 6 mean. — The 2 means move 2 across and the 6 means move 6 up from the origin.
- Why is it wrong to swap the numbers and write (6, 2) instead of (2, 6)? — Swapping the numbers points to a completely different square, because coordinates must always be read (across, up).
What coordinates in the first quadrant actually mean
The first quadrant is the top-right section of a grid where both numbers are zero or positive, so children only ever deal with whole, positive values to begin with. A coordinate is written as a pair inside brackets, separated by a comma, such as (3, 5). The first number tells you how far to move across from the origin (the bottom-left corner), and the second tells you how far to move up. Pointing out that the lines, not the spaces, carry the numbers helps prevent the most frequent misreadings.
How to support your child or class
The reliable memory hook is "along the corridor, then up the stairs", or simply "across, then up". Encourage children to put a finger on the origin and physically trace the across movement first, then the up movement, before saying the coordinate aloud. When marking, watch carefully for reversed pairs such as (5, 3) written as (3, 5); this is rarely careless and usually means the order rule needs revisiting. Saying each coordinate as a sentence, "three across and five up", slows children down and makes the order explicit.
Why a treasure map works so well
Coordinates can feel abstract, but a map gives every grid reference a reason to exist: it marks where something is. Hunting for the palm tree, the ship or the chest gives children a genuine purpose for reading each pair accurately, and the curving dotted path lets them describe a route as a sequence of coordinates. This real-world framing mirrors how coordinates are later used in geography, computing and even spreadsheet cells, so the skill has a long shelf life beyond Year 4.
Where this leads next
Confident first-quadrant work prepares children for Year 5 and 6, where they plot points, draw and translate simple shapes on a grid, and eventually meet all four quadrants with negative numbers in Key Stage 3. Securing the (across, up) order now removes a stubborn barrier later. If your child is ready to stretch, ask them to invent their own treasure features, write the coordinates for each, and then challenge someone else to find them.
Frequently asked questions
What does "coordinates in the first quadrant" mean for Year 4?
It means describing positions on a grid where both numbers are zero or positive, written as a pair such as (3, 5). The first quadrant is the top-right section of a coordinate grid, so children work only with whole, positive numbers, which keeps the focus on reading and writing the pairs correctly.
Which number comes first in a coordinate?
The across number always comes first, then the up number, so a coordinate reads (across, up). A helpful phrase is "along the corridor, then up the stairs". Reversing the two numbers is the most common mistake, so this worksheet practises the order repeatedly.
Is this worksheet free to print?
Yes. The worksheet is completely free and designed to print onto a single A4 page in black and white, so children can colour the treasure map as they work. There is no sign-up needed to download or print it.
What age and key stage is this coordinates worksheet for?
It is aimed at children aged 8 to 9 in Year 4 (Key Stage 2), matching the National Curriculum objective on describing positions on a 2-D grid in the first quadrant. Confident younger children or those needing revision in Year 5 may also find it useful.
How can I help my child if they keep mixing up the numbers?
Ask them to put a finger on the bottom-left corner and trace across first, then up, while saying the coordinate as a sentence such as "three across, five up". Slowing down and speaking the movement aloud makes the (across, up) order explicit and reduces reversed pairs.
Curriculum links
- Year 4 Geometry (position and direction): describe positions on a 2-D grid as coordinates in the first quadrant.
- Year 4 Geometry (position and direction): plot specified points and draw sides to complete a given polygon.
- Year 5 Geometry (position and direction): identify, describe and represent the position of a shape following a reflection or translation.
- Year 6 Geometry (position and direction): describe positions on the full coordinate grid (all four quadrants).
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
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