“Am I right?”
This is a question the student should be able to direct at him or herself, not the teacher. This lesson on factoring reinforces students’ ability to check their work while reviewing both factoring and polynomial multiplication. Students then use the practice problems from NROC’s Algebra 1—An Open course, Unit 9 - Factoring, Lesson 1, Topics 1, 2, and 3 (these cover factoring out greatest common factors and factoring simple or advanced trinomials by grouping) to develop skills in checking their own work.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand how to factor out the greatest common factor and to factor trinomials.
• Practice checking that one has factored correctly.
• Practice solving and checking for correctness on all problems.
Assessment Type
This lesson is designed for the 55-minute high school algebra class, but can easily be modified to fit a variety of contexts. It can be used when students are ready to practice trinomial factoring, well after the initial introduction of polynomial factoring. Alternately, it can be used as a general review of how to check one’s work and as standardized test practice if one selects a wider variety of practice problems from multiple topics.
Assignment Details
15min: Review factoring with warm up problems of your choice or use the factoring game, Puzzle: Match Factors, provided as part of this unit (Unit 9). If using the game, note that the different levels provide problems from different types of factoring.
10min: Brainstorm on the board all the different ways that one can check work on different types of algebra problems. Stress that the ability to self-check is important for taking final exams and standardized tests, not to mention in real life where one has neither a teacher nor a textbook to provide correct answers. For the algebra problems, provide examples of different types of problems if needed and/or have students pull examples from past homework and tests. Focus on the two ways that you can check factoring problems, as this is the newest concept. Students should record the results of the brainstorm as notes. (Examples of how answers can be checked are listed in Instructor Notes below.)
5min: Have students get out notebook paper for an in-class assignment that they will turn in at the end of the day. Pull up the practice problems from Unit 9, Lesson 1, Topic 1: Factoring and the Distributive Property, under the link titled “Practice” which covers factoring monomials. Show the students how to first solve the problem and record checking their work. The class assignment is to complete all practice problems from all three topics with both steps to the solution and work-checking shown. It’s up to you whether you want to require them to show their check two ways (both by evaluating and by multiplying the factors back together) or just one or the other. Also select and do an example problem from Topic 2: Factoring Trinomials by Grouping 1 to ensure students don’t get stuck here. A Topic 3 example may also be needed. Do note that NROC teaches factoring by grouping, not by “un-foiling” so be sure that your students understand this method before unleashing them on these problems.
20min: Students work to complete these problems on internet-enabled computers (working in groups as necessary), recording both the steps in their work and their answer checks on their paper as shown. Students who finish early can begin their homework or play an NROC math game of their choice.
5min: Check in with the class about the progress made. Which problems were the hardest to check and why? Anything that the brainstorm missed? Make sure to collect work from the day and that any homework assignment is recorded.
Instructor Notes
• To check a “Solve for X” problem: Put in the variables that you solved for. Does the left side equal the right side when evaluated for the values found? (Common pitfalls: Arithmetic errors. Copying errors.)
• To check a simplification problem: Take the expression and evaluate numbers in both the original un-simplified and simplified forms. For example, X + X + X + Y simplifies to 3x+y m Put in x=2, y=4 and see if 2 + 2+ 2+ 4 = 3*2+4. Does it? Then you’re probably right. (Common pitfalls: Arithmetic errors. Copying errors. False positives can occur, especially if students use the same number for two different variables, use 0 or 1, or use a number that is also a coefficient in the problem.)
• To check a graphing problem: Use a graphing calculator if allowed. After graphing, choose two clear, whole number (x, y) points from your graph. Use the X coordinate and Y coordinate values in the equation that you made the graph with. The equation should be true when evaluated for each point (the left side should = the right).
• Factoring: Check by multiplying back together. Can also check in the same manner as simplifying (evaluate with a number of your choice, factored and un-factored results should match).
• Multiplying: Check by factoring. Can also check in the same manner as simplifying (evaluate with a number of your choice, multiplied and un-multiplied results should match).
• Systems of equations: Check results in all equations. Graph with a graphing calculator, lines should intersect at the (x,y) point that matches the values solved for.
• Solving by factoring: Evaluate solutions in original, un-factored equation.
• For the brainstorm notes: Recording the results on a large class poster can be a great alternate assignment for a couple of strong students during the online practice portion of the class. This will also make it easy for any absent students to catch up on notes from today’s lesson when they return to class.
• This assignment can be repeated with the “Review” problems instead of the practice problems as an introductory activity tomorrow or as a review before an exam that focuses on factoring.
Rubric
As this is an introductory assignment participation should be the focus of grading. Any student who stayed on task and turned in a complete exit slip (or provided class notes) should receive full participation credit for the day. If kept in an organized notebook, notes can be graded on a later day.
2pts--Arrived on time, stayed on task, and participated with class.
3pts—Work is neat and organized according to expectations.
5pts—Student completed the expected amount of completed practice problems showing the self-checking of answers.
Total= 10pts
You can also grade an activity like this with a rough “Plus, check, minus, zero,” format where a plus is worth 100% credit, a check is 75%, minus is 50%, and zero, 0%.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Polynomials--Introducing and Exploring
After monomials are introduced, second semester algebra 1 students work with operations on polynomials. Before they get into more advanced operations, it is critical for students to understand how to add and subtract these strings of numbers and letters. NROC’s Algebra 1—An Open course, Unit 8, Lesson 1, Topic 1: Polynomials, contains a recorded introduction to basic terms and properties of polynomials. This lesson plan uses that recording as a jumping off point and asks students to predict the rules of polynomial addition and subtraction. They share their results and check their predictions using the presentations and problems from Unit 8, Lesson 1, Topic 2: Adding and Subtracting Polynomials.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand polynomial terms and how to evaluate polynomials
• Practice making logical predictions about mathematical concepts
• Be able to identify like terms and add or subtract polynomials
• Be able to explain why only like terms can be added and subtracted
Assessment Type
This is an introductory assignment that presents the basic polynomial terms, addition and multiplication. It provides a formative assessment of student understanding and is designed for the 55-minute high school algebra class. It encourages students to look ahead and think logically about math. It also assumes that enough internet enabled computers are available for students to work online in small groups.
Assignment Details
1. 5min: Play the presentation from Algebra 1— An Open course, Unit 8, Lesson 1, Topic 1: Polynomials while students take notes. The presentation uses the example of someone calculating printing costs for their magazine to introduce key polynomial vocabulary. Terms are discussed and a monomial, binomial, and trinomial are created. One volunteer should write a class set of notes on the board and all should check to see that their notes match reasonably well.
2. 10min: Make up, simplify, and evaluate some polynomials for easy whole numbers. For example, use the three polynomials created in the video. I find turning the variables into concrete examples helps students to understand their use and meaning. Be sure to include a squared variable and also a polynomial that has terms containing both x and y at the same time.
3. 15 min: Predict addition and subtraction rules for polynomials. Move students into heterogeneous groups. Take two of the more complex polynomials you’ve been using (or have a prepared graphic organizer containing some polynomials to use—if you make one, please send me a copy and I’ll post it here for others!). Students should predict the rules for adding together polynomials. They need to check their predicted rules by evaluating their results with numbers. If they are correct, their simplified (added together) results should equal the same amount as their un-simplified results when both are evaluated. They should then go on to working on polynomial subtraction. Four questions to explore and explain: How do you simplify monomial terms within a polynomial? How do you add together polynomials? How do you subtract polynomials? Within a term, does order matter when you evaluate? Explain your rules and use evaluation of results to show that your rules work.
4. 15min: Check results. Once students think they have a set of rules, they should check their results. They can do this by viewing and taking notes on NROC’s presentation on adding and subtracting polynomials. They should then complete as many as they can of the practice problems provided in the “Practice” section of that same lesson.
5. 10min: Summary and Exit Slip. The first group finished should write up a summary of their notes on the board. All students should write down any homework assignment before they exit. And all students should make sure their notes are as complete as the board notes. Student should, on a half sheet of paper, write their answer to a basic check-in type question. This is their “exit slip,” from the class (be sure they know it is worth participation credit) and they turn it in as they leave. Exit Slip Prompt: “My friend Jesse does not understand why (x+xy) + (x + xy) doesn’t equal 2x2y2. Please explain to Jesse what’s going wrong and how you could tell the answer wasn’t right.”
Instructor Notes
• Heterogeneous grouping is recommended to help prevent any one group from just being stuck while another group is already finished. If you do not have enough computers and must run this as a single class exercise, you can do so. Just be sure to facilitate class discussion and allow multiple suggestions for addition and subtraction rules. Don’t jump to the right answer. At a preset time or whenever the time seems right, move from the discussion to the next recorded presentation. Then, use the practice problems as a whole-class quiz game.
• In part 4, I provide four questions. I recommend using the first question as a class example for how to evaluate numbers in their simplified and unsimplified results to check if a rule works. For example, X + X + X + Y might simplify to 3xy. How do we know it doesn’t? Put in x=2, y=4 and see if 2 + 2+ 2+ 4 = 3*2*4. It doesn’t? Then 3xy is wrong. Is 3x+y right? Check it the same way.
• Warn students about false positives that can occur for their rules. Common sources for these false positives are reusing the same number for two different variables or using a number that is also a coefficient in the problem.
• The NROC subtraction of polynomials presentation does not include an example in which a negative term gets subtracted. You’ll need to make sure this is covered later or students may not realize that addition results from the subtraction of a negative term.
• A great question to include in a warm up for tomorrow: “My friend Jesse does not understand why (x + xy) - (x - xy) doesn’t equal 0. Please explain to Jesse what’s going wrong and what the answer should be.”
Rubric
As this is an introductory assignment, participation should be the focus of grading. Any student who stayed on task and turned in a complete exit slip (or provided class notes) should receive full participation credit for the day. If kept in an organized notebook, notes from the morning video can be graded on a later day.
5pts--Arrived on time, stayed on task, and participated with class.
5pts--Turned in fully completed exit slip. (If students complete the exit slip with no feedback from you, take the time to separate them into piles as you check them off as complete. Make one pile for fully complete and correct, one for sort of correct and sort of complete, one for complete but incorrect, and a final one for incomplete. This can help you get a sense of how well the concept is being understood and can help you set up truly heterogeneous groups. You’ll just pick one name from each pile until you’re out of names and note these as the groups for next time.)
Total= 10pts
You can also grade an activity like this with a rough “Plus, check, minus, zero,” format where a plus is worth 100% credit, a check is 75%, minus is 50%, and zero, 0%.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand polynomial terms and how to evaluate polynomials
• Practice making logical predictions about mathematical concepts
• Be able to identify like terms and add or subtract polynomials
• Be able to explain why only like terms can be added and subtracted
Assessment Type
This is an introductory assignment that presents the basic polynomial terms, addition and multiplication. It provides a formative assessment of student understanding and is designed for the 55-minute high school algebra class. It encourages students to look ahead and think logically about math. It also assumes that enough internet enabled computers are available for students to work online in small groups.
Assignment Details
1. 5min: Play the presentation from Algebra 1— An Open course, Unit 8, Lesson 1, Topic 1: Polynomials while students take notes. The presentation uses the example of someone calculating printing costs for their magazine to introduce key polynomial vocabulary. Terms are discussed and a monomial, binomial, and trinomial are created. One volunteer should write a class set of notes on the board and all should check to see that their notes match reasonably well.
2. 10min: Make up, simplify, and evaluate some polynomials for easy whole numbers. For example, use the three polynomials created in the video. I find turning the variables into concrete examples helps students to understand their use and meaning. Be sure to include a squared variable and also a polynomial that has terms containing both x and y at the same time.
3. 15 min: Predict addition and subtraction rules for polynomials. Move students into heterogeneous groups. Take two of the more complex polynomials you’ve been using (or have a prepared graphic organizer containing some polynomials to use—if you make one, please send me a copy and I’ll post it here for others!). Students should predict the rules for adding together polynomials. They need to check their predicted rules by evaluating their results with numbers. If they are correct, their simplified (added together) results should equal the same amount as their un-simplified results when both are evaluated. They should then go on to working on polynomial subtraction. Four questions to explore and explain: How do you simplify monomial terms within a polynomial? How do you add together polynomials? How do you subtract polynomials? Within a term, does order matter when you evaluate? Explain your rules and use evaluation of results to show that your rules work.
4. 15min: Check results. Once students think they have a set of rules, they should check their results. They can do this by viewing and taking notes on NROC’s presentation on adding and subtracting polynomials. They should then complete as many as they can of the practice problems provided in the “Practice” section of that same lesson.
5. 10min: Summary and Exit Slip. The first group finished should write up a summary of their notes on the board. All students should write down any homework assignment before they exit. And all students should make sure their notes are as complete as the board notes. Student should, on a half sheet of paper, write their answer to a basic check-in type question. This is their “exit slip,” from the class (be sure they know it is worth participation credit) and they turn it in as they leave. Exit Slip Prompt: “My friend Jesse does not understand why (x+xy) + (x + xy) doesn’t equal 2x2y2. Please explain to Jesse what’s going wrong and how you could tell the answer wasn’t right.”
Instructor Notes
• Heterogeneous grouping is recommended to help prevent any one group from just being stuck while another group is already finished. If you do not have enough computers and must run this as a single class exercise, you can do so. Just be sure to facilitate class discussion and allow multiple suggestions for addition and subtraction rules. Don’t jump to the right answer. At a preset time or whenever the time seems right, move from the discussion to the next recorded presentation. Then, use the practice problems as a whole-class quiz game.
• In part 4, I provide four questions. I recommend using the first question as a class example for how to evaluate numbers in their simplified and unsimplified results to check if a rule works. For example, X + X + X + Y might simplify to 3xy. How do we know it doesn’t? Put in x=2, y=4 and see if 2 + 2+ 2+ 4 = 3*2*4. It doesn’t? Then 3xy is wrong. Is 3x+y right? Check it the same way.
• Warn students about false positives that can occur for their rules. Common sources for these false positives are reusing the same number for two different variables or using a number that is also a coefficient in the problem.
• The NROC subtraction of polynomials presentation does not include an example in which a negative term gets subtracted. You’ll need to make sure this is covered later or students may not realize that addition results from the subtraction of a negative term.
• A great question to include in a warm up for tomorrow: “My friend Jesse does not understand why (x + xy) - (x - xy) doesn’t equal 0. Please explain to Jesse what’s going wrong and what the answer should be.”
Rubric
As this is an introductory assignment, participation should be the focus of grading. Any student who stayed on task and turned in a complete exit slip (or provided class notes) should receive full participation credit for the day. If kept in an organized notebook, notes from the morning video can be graded on a later day.
5pts--Arrived on time, stayed on task, and participated with class.
5pts--Turned in fully completed exit slip. (If students complete the exit slip with no feedback from you, take the time to separate them into piles as you check them off as complete. Make one pile for fully complete and correct, one for sort of correct and sort of complete, one for complete but incorrect, and a final one for incomplete. This can help you get a sense of how well the concept is being understood and can help you set up truly heterogeneous groups. You’ll just pick one name from each pile until you’re out of names and note these as the groups for next time.)
Total= 10pts
You can also grade an activity like this with a rough “Plus, check, minus, zero,” format where a plus is worth 100% credit, a check is 75%, minus is 50%, and zero, 0%.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Introducing Exponents
In the second semester of Algebra 1, students encounter exponents and the rules of exponent multiplication and division. The power of exponents and the huge effect of a continual increase in the rate of increase (which is what an exponent greater than one provides) need introduction as well. This lesson uses the NROC video presentation from Algebra 1—An Open course, Unit 7, Lesson 1, Topic 1: Rules of Exponents followed by a concrete example wherein the number 2 is raised to the powers of zero through 64. The example comes from a classic math story in which grains of rice are doubled on each successive square of a chessboard resulting in the last square receiving 2^64 grains of rice. Students then work with the numbers from this example to explore just how big a value 2^64 really is.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand exponents
• Be able to simplify basic fractions involving variables raised to exponents
• Be able to multiply variables with exponents
• Be able to explain how raising to a power is different than multiplying a number by that power.
Assessment Type
This is an introductory assignment that presents the basics of exponent use with constants and variables. It provides a formative assessment of student understanding of exponents and is designed for the 55minute high school algebra class.
Assignment Details
1. 15min--Play the video presentation from Algebra 1—An Open course, Unit 7, Lesson 1, Topic 1: Rules of Exponents which explains basic exponent concepts of exponent notation, multiplication and division. Students should take notes and then summarize key points as a whole class at the end. After this, check for understanding with a few example problems and assign any textbook work for homework. Be sure that students are NOT just multiplying by 2 or using 2x and x^2 interchangeably.
2. 10min--Tell a version of the Rice Grain Story, where someone asks a sultan (or raja or king) for payment in the form of rice on a chessboard. One grain on the first square, 2 grains on the second, 4 grains on the third, 8 on the 4th and so on. Write this as 2^0, 2^1, 2^2, and so on. Ask if this payment is more valuable than a pound of gold on each square and have students discuss. (Someone might have to look up how much a pound of gold is worth.)
Now, bring out one or more chessboards and a large rice sack to illustrate. Have student volunteers count out grains of rice to fit on the board until they can’t anymore. How many squares did that take?
Get someone to figure out how much rice would be on the last square. (If you have a computer projector, you can use this to do a quick aside on using a spreadsheet for calculations. Otherwise handheld calculators work.) 2^64 is 18446744073709551616. Yikes!
Redo problem with 3 grains of rice (3^0, 3^1, 3^2…) to make sure students don’t confuse the doubling for correct use of exponents. This also shows just how fast exponents increase in size…and how useful they are as 2^64 is easier to write out then the huge number it becomes.
3. 20min--Have students try to get a sense of how big 2^64 is. They can go about it several different ways depending on interest and what you have available. A small group of students could use a computer spreadsheet to see just how much numerically summing from 2^2 to 2^64 is. Meanwhile, another group can approach this as a storage problem. How much space would 2^64 grains of rice take up in a cubic warehouse? Have the students actually calculate this by filling a small box (shoebox for example) with rice. Have a measuring tape and half cup, quarter cup, measures available. Other students could try to compare the number of grains calculated to how much rice is grown yearly in the world. Finally, how much would that all weigh? Final numbers could be put up on a single poster displaying the results. Anyone finished begins on homework. To get a sense of what they’ll come up with, try this page.
4. 10min--Assign your cleanup people. Anyone not cleaning up is helping create the class results on one large poster and/or writing an answer to this Exit Slip Prompt: A student of mine once said, “5^2 is 10, 5^3 is 15, and 5^4 is 20. It’s so easy!” Could you kindly explain to this student where they went wrong and help them find a trick or slogan that will let them remember how powers work. Students who finish can share aloud. Summarize findings and dismiss the class!
Instructor Notes
• When doing example problems at the beginning of class, be sure to do a squared problem and a cubic problem and mention the relationship between squaring and the area of squares and cubing and the volume of cubes.
• To keep things interesting for successive class periods have them pretend to fill chessboards with 3^0, then 3^1, 3^2 of 4^0, 4^1, 4^2 and so on instead of powers of 2. Alternately, do not show the next class more than a glimpse at the previous class’s poster. Make it known that class posters will be voted on the next day (classes cannot vote for their own poster). The poster voted best will be kept on the wall.
• If there are not enough rice tasks to go around, a group could be assigned to summarize the morning’s exponent notes in a class poster as well.
• Show the effect of a negative exponent the next day (or the day after the posters have been voted on, as then you’ll have large scrap paper) as folding paper in half repeatedly. The How many times do students think the paper can be folded before it becomes too thick to fold?
• During summarizing the exit slip results, “Exponents are repeated multiplying of a number. Multiplication is repeated adding of a number,” is a slogan that helps many students.
Rubric
As this is a formative assignment, participation is what will be graded here. Any student who stayed on task and turned in a complete exit slip (or signed their name to the results poster or was a cleanup person) should receive full participation credit for the day. If kept in an organized notebook, notes from the morning video can be graded on a later day.
5pts--Arrived on time, stayed on task, and participated with class.
5pts--Turned in correctly completed exit slip. (If students had time to discuss their answers at the end, you could require students to revise their answers and grade correctness more strictly. Don’t forget that some students were assigned cleanup or poster creation during this time, and those students should receive credit for those activities instead of the slip.)
Total= 10pts
You can also grade an activity like this with a rough “Plus, check, minus, zero,” format where a plus is worth 100% credit, a check is 75%, minus is 50%, and zero, 0%.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand exponents
• Be able to simplify basic fractions involving variables raised to exponents
• Be able to multiply variables with exponents
• Be able to explain how raising to a power is different than multiplying a number by that power.
Assessment Type
This is an introductory assignment that presents the basics of exponent use with constants and variables. It provides a formative assessment of student understanding of exponents and is designed for the 55minute high school algebra class.
Assignment Details
1. 15min--Play the video presentation from Algebra 1—An Open course, Unit 7, Lesson 1, Topic 1: Rules of Exponents which explains basic exponent concepts of exponent notation, multiplication and division. Students should take notes and then summarize key points as a whole class at the end. After this, check for understanding with a few example problems and assign any textbook work for homework. Be sure that students are NOT just multiplying by 2 or using 2x and x^2 interchangeably.
2. 10min--Tell a version of the Rice Grain Story, where someone asks a sultan (or raja or king) for payment in the form of rice on a chessboard. One grain on the first square, 2 grains on the second, 4 grains on the third, 8 on the 4th and so on. Write this as 2^0, 2^1, 2^2, and so on. Ask if this payment is more valuable than a pound of gold on each square and have students discuss. (Someone might have to look up how much a pound of gold is worth.)
Now, bring out one or more chessboards and a large rice sack to illustrate. Have student volunteers count out grains of rice to fit on the board until they can’t anymore. How many squares did that take?
Get someone to figure out how much rice would be on the last square. (If you have a computer projector, you can use this to do a quick aside on using a spreadsheet for calculations. Otherwise handheld calculators work.) 2^64 is 18446744073709551616. Yikes!
Redo problem with 3 grains of rice (3^0, 3^1, 3^2…) to make sure students don’t confuse the doubling for correct use of exponents. This also shows just how fast exponents increase in size…and how useful they are as 2^64 is easier to write out then the huge number it becomes.
3. 20min--Have students try to get a sense of how big 2^64 is. They can go about it several different ways depending on interest and what you have available. A small group of students could use a computer spreadsheet to see just how much numerically summing from 2^2 to 2^64 is. Meanwhile, another group can approach this as a storage problem. How much space would 2^64 grains of rice take up in a cubic warehouse? Have the students actually calculate this by filling a small box (shoebox for example) with rice. Have a measuring tape and half cup, quarter cup, measures available. Other students could try to compare the number of grains calculated to how much rice is grown yearly in the world. Finally, how much would that all weigh? Final numbers could be put up on a single poster displaying the results. Anyone finished begins on homework. To get a sense of what they’ll come up with, try this page.
4. 10min--Assign your cleanup people. Anyone not cleaning up is helping create the class results on one large poster and/or writing an answer to this Exit Slip Prompt: A student of mine once said, “5^2 is 10, 5^3 is 15, and 5^4 is 20. It’s so easy!” Could you kindly explain to this student where they went wrong and help them find a trick or slogan that will let them remember how powers work. Students who finish can share aloud. Summarize findings and dismiss the class!
Instructor Notes
• When doing example problems at the beginning of class, be sure to do a squared problem and a cubic problem and mention the relationship between squaring and the area of squares and cubing and the volume of cubes.
• To keep things interesting for successive class periods have them pretend to fill chessboards with 3^0, then 3^1, 3^2 of 4^0, 4^1, 4^2 and so on instead of powers of 2. Alternately, do not show the next class more than a glimpse at the previous class’s poster. Make it known that class posters will be voted on the next day (classes cannot vote for their own poster). The poster voted best will be kept on the wall.
• If there are not enough rice tasks to go around, a group could be assigned to summarize the morning’s exponent notes in a class poster as well.
• Show the effect of a negative exponent the next day (or the day after the posters have been voted on, as then you’ll have large scrap paper) as folding paper in half repeatedly. The How many times do students think the paper can be folded before it becomes too thick to fold?
• During summarizing the exit slip results, “Exponents are repeated multiplying of a number. Multiplication is repeated adding of a number,” is a slogan that helps many students.
Rubric
As this is a formative assignment, participation is what will be graded here. Any student who stayed on task and turned in a complete exit slip (or signed their name to the results poster or was a cleanup person) should receive full participation credit for the day. If kept in an organized notebook, notes from the morning video can be graded on a later day.
5pts--Arrived on time, stayed on task, and participated with class.
5pts--Turned in correctly completed exit slip. (If students had time to discuss their answers at the end, you could require students to revise their answers and grade correctness more strictly. Don’t forget that some students were assigned cleanup or poster creation during this time, and those students should receive credit for those activities instead of the slip.)
Total= 10pts
You can also grade an activity like this with a rough “Plus, check, minus, zero,” format where a plus is worth 100% credit, a check is 75%, minus is 50%, and zero, 0%.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Applying Functions: A Roller Coaster Project
After viewing “Snowboarding,” the online tutorial simulation from Unit 3 of NROC’s Algebra 1—An Open Course, that reviews the properties of functions and relations, students draw a graph representing the hills and loops of a roller coaster. The students use coordinates from their graph to discuss different types of relations (functions, linear functions, etc.). Finally, they create a scale model of a rollercoaster, thereby applying their learning to the use of a proportional function in a real world situation. This blog post builds on the “Design a Roller Coaster,” also from Unit 3.
Learning Objective(s)
• Identify linear functions, relations, and non-linear functions from graphs.
• Create a linear equation from two points on a graph.
• Use a proportional function in a real world endeavor.
Assessment Type
This capstone project allows students to showcase their understanding of functions and relations as well as apply them to a 3-D construction project.
Assignment Details
Applying the abstract concepts of functions and relations to real life can be difficult for a student. Projects and real life examples can help. The information below is an overall outline of how such a project can be introduced. Also provided is a link to a handout to help guide students through the project.
1. Warm Up: Have your students respond freely in a journal to the following prompt. “How do Roller Coasters work? What makes them fun? What (if anything) do they have to do with functions?” (Example answers: The work on gravity. Getting pulled around and going fast are fun! How fast a coaster goes is a function of how far it’s fallen. How pulled you feel when going around a corner is a function of how tight a turn is and how fast you’re going.)
2. Explain that today you are going to begin a project that will begin with using functions and relations to design a track and end with building scale models of roller coasters. First, you’re going to see a tutorial simulation that uses snowboarding tracks to show you how to represent a track or path as a graphed relation between height and distance. It will help you identify functions and non-functions using graphs and tables also.
3. Show the simulation, having students discuss and vote on correct answers. When finished ask: If shown a graph of another track, a roller coaster track, could you do what we did here?
4. Students work in pairs at computers or individually with graph provided as part of the “Design a Roller Coaster,” project from Unit 3 of Algebra 1—An open Course. They should answer questions one and two either from the website or from the handout I created to go with the project. Note that the students are being asked to do the same thing as in the snowboarding tutoring simulation they just viewed: Identify sections of the track as representing a linear function, non linear function, or not a function (it does not pass the vertical line test). They are NOT being asked to generate more advanced functions from the graph provided. You can have them write an equation for the portion of the graph that represents a linear function.
5. Introduce them to the project idea of building a scale model of a roller coaster. When one scales something, one uses a linear, proportional function, so this provides awesome real life use of the math they’ve been learning. Essentially, they will need to generate a scale factor using the ratio between the height their coaster would be in real life, and how tall the maximum height they plan for their model. This “factor”—the ratio between the true height and the height of their model--will determine all other heights in their model.
This project is based on the NROC Algebra 1--An open Course Rollercoaster Project, but a bit more fleshed out. To me, hands on building and real life applications are what make projects awesome, so I’ve added it in! See the handouts I’ve made to guide this project. WARNING: They are not complete, but I’d love your help to make them that way! I’ve posted what I have in a Shared Google Doc. Please feel free to edit and improve, and let me know what you’ve done! You’re welcome to edit the original if you feel confident or to send me written up ideas for future inclusions.
Instructor Notes
• Fun and innovation should be encouraged. If students would rather make a scale model of their house, the school, an airplane, or most anything, have them go for it! No kits, though.
• Many other functions apply to roller coasters than scaling functions for models. For example, if friction is ignored, the speed of a rollercoaster at any point along the track is determined by how far it has fallen from rest at the top of the coaster’s highest hill. As an extension project, have some students try to find that relation, determine whether it is a function, and if so can they use it to predict speed? (for the instructor: It’s a non-linear function sqrt(2gh) is what you’re looking for, where “g” is acceleration on earth from gravity and “h” is the height fallen.
• For students struggling with finding the equation of a linear portion of a graph invite them to review the NROC presentations from Unit 3 and perhaps redo the tutorial Snowboarding simulation from Unit 3 on functions and linear proportionality.
• In a classroom with limited space resources, students can create a scale illustration on large butcher paper of their planed coaster. Remember, they should still report the scale factor between their original graph and their poster as well as the scale factor between their poster and real life.
• This is a very scalable activity (pun intended). If you don't want to do the full project, you can still watch the snowboarding tutorial sim and discover the equation of a line on the NROC Algebra 1 Roller Coaster Project website. Then, instead of having students make coasters, print out pictures of coasters. Have students find out how tall the coaster is in real life and have them figure out: the proportionality between the image and the actual coaster, 2. The slope (or entire equation) of some linear portion of the coaster if it is projected onto an X,Y coordinate system.
Rubric
Please refer to the Google document handout.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Virtual Math Manipulatives for Algebra
When I last posted about the NROC text resources, I focused on the use of the written text itself, but did you notice the manipulatives? Take a look at Unit 4, Lesson 1, Topic 3 of NROC’s Algebra 1—An Open Course. There, you’ll see a manipulative that relates the slope “m” and constant “b” of a linear equation in slope intercept form to its graph. Below is a snapshot of the manipulative.
Like physical manipulatives, virtual manipulatives are awesome tools for students trying to really understand and internalize (I’d use the term “grok,” but I doubt that word is commonly understood, these days) how a mathematical concept works. Here is a way to use this tool in your classroom.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand how graphing is used to represent solutions to a linear equation
• Recognize how changing coefficients and constants change the graphed solution.
Assessment Type
The formative assessment mentioned here should be employed as part of an introduction or reinforcement activity before students are thoroughly familiar with the concepts referred to.
Assignment Details
In a classroom with only one internet enabled computer, one can have one of NROC’s manipulatives running on through an overhead projector. Explain the basics of what they're seeing in the manipulative, and then ask them to predict what will happen when you toggle one of the variables.
For example, to use the manipulative mentioned, remind students of the y=mx+b form of linear equations, and possibly run them through how to graph one using an X,Y table. Hint that you’re going to be showing them a shortcut soon. Read the introduction to the manipulative aloud to the class and field any questions, but do not use any of the slider bars to change the manipulative. Then, ask “What will happen to the graph if we increase the value of b in the manipulative below? How about if we make B negative? ” Have them record their prediction and share their prediction with one partner. Then, “What will happen if we make ‘m’ greater? If ‘m’ is a fraction? Negative?”
If at all possible, though, these manipulatives should be given to students directly to explore on their own. You’ll need to give them basic direction on how to make the manipulative go, but once you have, allow them to have fun exploring the manipulative. Eventually, structure their investigation, asking them “What happens if…?” questions and “Why does…?” questions. I recommend having them write down their responses for you. (See the Example Questions below)
So, that’s a great way to use virtual manipulatives in your classroom. I hope you have fun with them! Yet, what do you do if you want a manipulative, but NROC doesn’t have it in its text?
I have two go-to sources, Wolfram Math Demonstrations and Geogebra, both of which have large libraries of manipulatives and a build-your-own option if you need something new. Both are absolutely free, although user accounts are required for Geogebra. Both can also be embedded in your webpage. In fact, Geogebra is what was used to make the demonstrations made in the NROC text.
See my hints and tips below for more information on getting started with these two great manipulative resources. If you build your own, give me a link to it in the comments section. I’d love to see it!
In summary, manipulatives are great because they instantly provide a playful math experience while allowing the student to explore and internalize “If I change one thing, what happens to another?” You can access manipulatives through NROC’s text, by visiting the Wolfram Math Demonstrations page, or making your own with Geogebra!
Example Questions
1. What do you think will happen to the graph if we increase the value of ‘b’ in the manipulative? How about if we make b negative? What really happened when ‘b’ changed?
2. What do you think will happen if we make ‘m’ greater? What if ‘m’ is a fraction? Negative? What really happened when ‘m’ changed?
3. Overall, describe what ‘m’ changes in a graph of y=mx+b? What about b?
4. *Extra Credit Challenge!* If you have two y=mx+b equations graphed on the same page and ‘m’ is the same in both, but 'b' is different, what is the special name for how these two lines’ relationship?
Rubric
4 Points for participating well in the class activity and discussion.
2 Points per question (6 total). The first point is for any honest attempt at a prediction given in a complete sentence. 2nd point is for noting the correct action of the graph when transformed. No penalty for skipping the Extra Credit, but take the opportunity to discuss the answer later as it introduces parallel lines.
Total: 10 points
Instructor Notes
Hints and Tips for Geogebra:
Download Geogebra and register with them to access their materials.
Once you register for Geogebra, go back and log in. Browse the wiki-library of resources, but be patient as things take a while to load. Geogebra's library is divided by language—you won’t see a list of manipulatives on the “Main” page. Look instead under the link that says “English.”
If you want information on how to create or embed a manipulative in your website, look in their "Introductory Materials" for orientation. Their format is do-it-yourself and share. Again, if you make a manipulative, please post me a link of your creation! I’d love to see it!
Hints and Tips for Wolfram Math:
You’ll need to download a CDF player (free) to use the demonstrations, but wow! It’s worth it.--CDF Player
To navigate, try looking within the topics list in the drop down menu linked to here.--
Wolfram Math Demonstrations Topics List. You can also do a keyword search.
If you get stuck or find yourself with questions on how to make your own demonstration--Wolfram FAQ.
Also, if you see a demo that’s almost what you want, but not quite, emailing them is very effective. I usually get a response within a week. Or, if you’re at all familiar with Mathematica and/or programming you can make a DIY manipulative here too! Have a great time!
Like physical manipulatives, virtual manipulatives are awesome tools for students trying to really understand and internalize (I’d use the term “grok,” but I doubt that word is commonly understood, these days) how a mathematical concept works. Here is a way to use this tool in your classroom.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand how graphing is used to represent solutions to a linear equation
• Recognize how changing coefficients and constants change the graphed solution.
Assessment Type
The formative assessment mentioned here should be employed as part of an introduction or reinforcement activity before students are thoroughly familiar with the concepts referred to.
Assignment Details
In a classroom with only one internet enabled computer, one can have one of NROC’s manipulatives running on through an overhead projector. Explain the basics of what they're seeing in the manipulative, and then ask them to predict what will happen when you toggle one of the variables.
For example, to use the manipulative mentioned, remind students of the y=mx+b form of linear equations, and possibly run them through how to graph one using an X,Y table. Hint that you’re going to be showing them a shortcut soon. Read the introduction to the manipulative aloud to the class and field any questions, but do not use any of the slider bars to change the manipulative. Then, ask “What will happen to the graph if we increase the value of b in the manipulative below? How about if we make B negative? ” Have them record their prediction and share their prediction with one partner. Then, “What will happen if we make ‘m’ greater? If ‘m’ is a fraction? Negative?”
If at all possible, though, these manipulatives should be given to students directly to explore on their own. You’ll need to give them basic direction on how to make the manipulative go, but once you have, allow them to have fun exploring the manipulative. Eventually, structure their investigation, asking them “What happens if…?” questions and “Why does…?” questions. I recommend having them write down their responses for you. (See the Example Questions below)
So, that’s a great way to use virtual manipulatives in your classroom. I hope you have fun with them! Yet, what do you do if you want a manipulative, but NROC doesn’t have it in its text?
I have two go-to sources, Wolfram Math Demonstrations and Geogebra, both of which have large libraries of manipulatives and a build-your-own option if you need something new. Both are absolutely free, although user accounts are required for Geogebra. Both can also be embedded in your webpage. In fact, Geogebra is what was used to make the demonstrations made in the NROC text.
See my hints and tips below for more information on getting started with these two great manipulative resources. If you build your own, give me a link to it in the comments section. I’d love to see it!
In summary, manipulatives are great because they instantly provide a playful math experience while allowing the student to explore and internalize “If I change one thing, what happens to another?” You can access manipulatives through NROC’s text, by visiting the Wolfram Math Demonstrations page, or making your own with Geogebra!
Example Questions
1. What do you think will happen to the graph if we increase the value of ‘b’ in the manipulative? How about if we make b negative? What really happened when ‘b’ changed?
2. What do you think will happen if we make ‘m’ greater? What if ‘m’ is a fraction? Negative? What really happened when ‘m’ changed?
3. Overall, describe what ‘m’ changes in a graph of y=mx+b? What about b?
4. *Extra Credit Challenge!* If you have two y=mx+b equations graphed on the same page and ‘m’ is the same in both, but 'b' is different, what is the special name for how these two lines’ relationship?
Rubric
4 Points for participating well in the class activity and discussion.
2 Points per question (6 total). The first point is for any honest attempt at a prediction given in a complete sentence. 2nd point is for noting the correct action of the graph when transformed. No penalty for skipping the Extra Credit, but take the opportunity to discuss the answer later as it introduces parallel lines.
Total: 10 points
Instructor Notes
Hints and Tips for Geogebra:
Download Geogebra and register with them to access their materials.
Once you register for Geogebra, go back and log in. Browse the wiki-library of resources, but be patient as things take a while to load. Geogebra's library is divided by language—you won’t see a list of manipulatives on the “Main” page. Look instead under the link that says “English.”
If you want information on how to create or embed a manipulative in your website, look in their "Introductory Materials" for orientation. Their format is do-it-yourself and share. Again, if you make a manipulative, please post me a link of your creation! I’d love to see it!
Hints and Tips for Wolfram Math:
You’ll need to download a CDF player (free) to use the demonstrations, but wow! It’s worth it.--CDF Player
To navigate, try looking within the topics list in the drop down menu linked to here.--
Wolfram Math Demonstrations Topics List. You can also do a keyword search.
If you get stuck or find yourself with questions on how to make your own demonstration--Wolfram FAQ.
Also, if you see a demo that’s almost what you want, but not quite, emailing them is very effective. I usually get a response within a week. Or, if you’re at all familiar with Mathematica and/or programming you can make a DIY manipulative here too! Have a great time!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Strengthening Language Skills While Reviewing Graphing Inequalities
While working to figure out from context which words have been removed from a paragraph explaining systems of inequalities, students will both reinforce their understanding of graphing systems of inequalities and their ability to use and understand academic English. Students first fill in the teacher created cloze dealing with systems of inequalities. Then, they make and share one of their own. A systems of inequalities cloze worksheet and key (based on a paragraph from NROC's Algebra 1--An Open Course, Unit 6, Lesson 3, Topic 1: Graphing Systems of Inequalities) are provided.
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand how graphing is used to represent solutions to systems of inequalities
• Recognize and use proper English grammar and syntax when communicating about algebra
Assessment Type
This formative assessment should be employed as part of a reinforcement activity or review after students are familiar with the terms and concepts referred to.
Assignment Details
A truly useful but often overlooked item in the NROC Algebra 1 course is the topic text. Written in a conversational style, the text re-explains the same concepts addressed in each lesson’s recorded presentation, providing more details and example problems. Unlike a traditional offline textbook however, it can be copy/pasted into presentations and lecture notes. So long as proper credit is given to its authors, you’re good to go. Here the topic text is used to make a “cloze” activity.
Used since the 1950’s, a fill-in-the-blank cloze exercise is designed to strengthen grammar and syntax skills. You will see the cloze worksheet (and key) on systems of inequalities were made by taking the NROC text and then removing every seventh word. Thus a puzzle rather than a fill-in-the-blank quiz is created—one in which a non-math preposition or verb is as likely to be omitted as a math term. In this assignment, as students first solve, then create, and finally trade-and-solve their clozes, they will use and discuss many aspects of the English language. This cloze activity could be used in many contexts, but this lesson assumes a 55 minute high school class session. Have on hand a class set of the systems of inequalities cloze worksheet and one copy of the key.
15min – As students enter, hand out the systems of inequalities cloze and have them begin work figuring out the missing words. After 10 minutes, have them compare answers with a partner. During this time, circulate, providing insight to any stuck students. Explicitly use grammar terms. If needed, you can brush up on prepositions and adverbs here or many other places online.
5min – Review answers as a whole class. Some suggested answers will be different but still technically correct based on the context. Discuss variance of answers, but accept all that work. Check the results with your key and discuss why the author(s) might have chosen one word over another. Explain that students will now have the make their own cloze puzzles and will then trade and complete them.
15min – If you have internet enabled computers available, have students go to the topic text portion of several of the previous lessons on the NROC Algebra 1--An Open Course. If you don’t have computers, this same activity can be done using a textbook’s text. Instead of “copy/pasting” as describe below, students will re-write and create a cloze paragraph by hand using their class textbook. They should note the textbook and page number as the text source and cloze key.
For those of you using the NROC text, this image shows where to click to find the topic text:
Since the example cloze deals with Unit 6, Lesson 3, Topic 1: Graphing Systems of Inequalities, text from Unit 6, lessons 1, 2, and 3 all make sense as text sources. This will provide the wanted review of the unit. Students should choose and copy/paste one paragraph from the lesson of their choice into a word processor and save it with a descriptive title (I recommend “NROCAlgebraUnitLessonTopic_Cloze”).
At the top of their document they should put (write the following on the board for them):
“Cloze and Key Created by: (First and Last Names)
Text Taken from: NROC Algebra 1—An Open Course Unit _(#)_ Lesson (#), Topic number: Topic Name
Date:____________”
This gives credit to the original authors of the text as well as those creating the cloze.
Beneath this, the students should paste the paragraph’s text, making sure their selection will fit on the page twice and removing unwanted formatting (extra spaces and unwanted underlines from hyperlinks, for example). Then, they should bold and underline every seventh word. Now they have their key! They should copy/paste their edited paragraph below the first one, leaving about 5 spaces in between.
At the top of the second paragraph, they should write:
“Cloze Created by: (First and Last Names)
Cloze Solved by:_________ Date:________”
Now, they should delete every bolded/underlined word from the second paragraph, replacing what they’ve removed with a blank line. Finally, they should save their work and print out a copy.
10min--Once they have their copy printed, they should put their names in the appropriate places on the printout. Then, they cut the worksheet from the key and trade with another finished group who has done a different section of text. Each group races the other to complete the traded clozes. Afterwards, they should check their answers against the key. Groups that finish early can be given time to work on review homework or invited to make a cloze from scratch on any funny but classroom appropriate topic they want to share with the class and solve for fun.
5min--For wrap up, have students volunteer with which sentences were hardest to figure out and why. Summarize any key concept and/or syntax difficulties or vocabulary difficulties that were run into.
Instructor Notes
•Your students have just made you a large number of worksheets that can be used for future years. Save them! Either copy them off the computers or have them print out an extra hard copy for you.
•Encourage students to use and share hotkeys. In Microsoft word, for example, “CRTL+C” is copy, and “CRTL+V” is paste. “Shift+hypen” makes an underline.
•Remember, ELL students will have much more difficulty with a cloze. Offer them a bit more time and scaffolding for their work or pair that with a kind stronger student. Just be sure that the stronger student can explain why certain words are being chosen and does not just complete the worksheet solo.
• Since they’re making and solving puzzles, get them revved up. Pull out a timer when they solve each other’s clozes! They are racing each other within the class but also TOTAL time against other classes. Once you explain what they are to do after they’ve printed their work, start the timer. After the first group finishes, hand over timer and work collection duty to that group so you can help others.
Rubric
Grade on effort and completeness, not on correct answers. Grade by looking at all the names on the completed clozes. Each student’s name should appear twice, once as a creator and once as a solver.
3pts – Student’s name appears on a correctly completed cloze key.
2pts - Key formatting is correct and answers provided in key.
5pts-- Student’s name appears on a correctly completed cloze.
(Partial points for an incomplete cloze)
10pts Total
Learning Objective(s)
• Understand how graphing is used to represent solutions to systems of inequalities
• Recognize and use proper English grammar and syntax when communicating about algebra
Assessment Type
This formative assessment should be employed as part of a reinforcement activity or review after students are familiar with the terms and concepts referred to.
Assignment Details
A truly useful but often overlooked item in the NROC Algebra 1 course is the topic text. Written in a conversational style, the text re-explains the same concepts addressed in each lesson’s recorded presentation, providing more details and example problems. Unlike a traditional offline textbook however, it can be copy/pasted into presentations and lecture notes. So long as proper credit is given to its authors, you’re good to go. Here the topic text is used to make a “cloze” activity.
Used since the 1950’s, a fill-in-the-blank cloze exercise is designed to strengthen grammar and syntax skills. You will see the cloze worksheet (and key) on systems of inequalities were made by taking the NROC text and then removing every seventh word. Thus a puzzle rather than a fill-in-the-blank quiz is created—one in which a non-math preposition or verb is as likely to be omitted as a math term. In this assignment, as students first solve, then create, and finally trade-and-solve their clozes, they will use and discuss many aspects of the English language. This cloze activity could be used in many contexts, but this lesson assumes a 55 minute high school class session. Have on hand a class set of the systems of inequalities cloze worksheet and one copy of the key.
15min – As students enter, hand out the systems of inequalities cloze and have them begin work figuring out the missing words. After 10 minutes, have them compare answers with a partner. During this time, circulate, providing insight to any stuck students. Explicitly use grammar terms. If needed, you can brush up on prepositions and adverbs here or many other places online.
5min – Review answers as a whole class. Some suggested answers will be different but still technically correct based on the context. Discuss variance of answers, but accept all that work. Check the results with your key and discuss why the author(s) might have chosen one word over another. Explain that students will now have the make their own cloze puzzles and will then trade and complete them.
15min – If you have internet enabled computers available, have students go to the topic text portion of several of the previous lessons on the NROC Algebra 1--An Open Course. If you don’t have computers, this same activity can be done using a textbook’s text. Instead of “copy/pasting” as describe below, students will re-write and create a cloze paragraph by hand using their class textbook. They should note the textbook and page number as the text source and cloze key.
For those of you using the NROC text, this image shows where to click to find the topic text:
Since the example cloze deals with Unit 6, Lesson 3, Topic 1: Graphing Systems of Inequalities, text from Unit 6, lessons 1, 2, and 3 all make sense as text sources. This will provide the wanted review of the unit. Students should choose and copy/paste one paragraph from the lesson of their choice into a word processor and save it with a descriptive title (I recommend “NROCAlgebraUnitLessonTopic_Cloze”).
At the top of their document they should put (write the following on the board for them):
“Cloze and Key Created by: (First and Last Names)
Text Taken from: NROC Algebra 1—An Open Course Unit _(#)_ Lesson (#), Topic number: Topic Name
Date:____________”
This gives credit to the original authors of the text as well as those creating the cloze.
Beneath this, the students should paste the paragraph’s text, making sure their selection will fit on the page twice and removing unwanted formatting (extra spaces and unwanted underlines from hyperlinks, for example). Then, they should bold and underline every seventh word. Now they have their key! They should copy/paste their edited paragraph below the first one, leaving about 5 spaces in between.
At the top of the second paragraph, they should write:
“Cloze Created by: (First and Last Names)
Cloze Solved by:_________ Date:________”
Now, they should delete every bolded/underlined word from the second paragraph, replacing what they’ve removed with a blank line. Finally, they should save their work and print out a copy.
10min--Once they have their copy printed, they should put their names in the appropriate places on the printout. Then, they cut the worksheet from the key and trade with another finished group who has done a different section of text. Each group races the other to complete the traded clozes. Afterwards, they should check their answers against the key. Groups that finish early can be given time to work on review homework or invited to make a cloze from scratch on any funny but classroom appropriate topic they want to share with the class and solve for fun.
5min--For wrap up, have students volunteer with which sentences were hardest to figure out and why. Summarize any key concept and/or syntax difficulties or vocabulary difficulties that were run into.
Instructor Notes
•Your students have just made you a large number of worksheets that can be used for future years. Save them! Either copy them off the computers or have them print out an extra hard copy for you.
•Encourage students to use and share hotkeys. In Microsoft word, for example, “CRTL+C” is copy, and “CRTL+V” is paste. “Shift+hypen” makes an underline.
•Remember, ELL students will have much more difficulty with a cloze. Offer them a bit more time and scaffolding for their work or pair that with a kind stronger student. Just be sure that the stronger student can explain why certain words are being chosen and does not just complete the worksheet solo.
• Since they’re making and solving puzzles, get them revved up. Pull out a timer when they solve each other’s clozes! They are racing each other within the class but also TOTAL time against other classes. Once you explain what they are to do after they’ve printed their work, start the timer. After the first group finishes, hand over timer and work collection duty to that group so you can help others.
Rubric
Grade on effort and completeness, not on correct answers. Grade by looking at all the names on the completed clozes. Each student’s name should appear twice, once as a creator and once as a solver.
3pts – Student’s name appears on a correctly completed cloze key.
2pts - Key formatting is correct and answers provided in key.
5pts-- Student’s name appears on a correctly completed cloze.
(Partial points for an incomplete cloze)
10pts Total
Thursday, July 14, 2011
How to Record Your Own Step-by-Step Algebra Problems
The NROC Algebra 1 course includes many step-by-step worked example problems recorded by Salman Khan of Khan Academy. What do you do if you find yourself in need of an additional or alternate example? This post will help any teacher who wishes to create additional example problems for their students.
Learning Objective(s)
• For the Teacher: Learn how to create and distribute a recording of your own.
Assessment Type
This post is aimed at teachers, not students. It uses the worked examples relevant to NROC's Algebra 1--An Open Course, Unit 6 Topic 1: Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing to show how one can add to the provided worked examples and supplement with examples made by the teacher.
Your finished example will look like the one linked to here:
Or, you can have students follow a link to reach a full size recording:
SolvingSystemsofEquationsbyGraphing3
Assignment Details
The worked examples in “Unit 6 Topic 1: Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing” jump right in with some deep word problems. An example that goes straight to graphing the intersecting equations might help. Let's record that example, showing step by step solving and reviewing graphing. Of course, you can apply the same techniques to any problem you choose.
Set aside a few hours for this so you won’t feel rushed, and then have fun with it. After you’re familiar with the tools, making recordings is fast and relatively easy.
First, make sure you have an internet connected computer equipped with a microphone headset and drawing tablet. I’ve had good luck with using a Logitech USB headset and a Wacom drawing tablet. This will improve your sound quality and allow you to write out your equations neatly as you present. If you cannot get a tablet, I suggest you type out your work on separate PowerPoint slides. If you only have an area or laptop mic, give it a try and see if you find the audio acceptable.
Next you’ll need recording software. Download the free version of Jing if you’re only going to do simple recordings lasting five minutes or less. If you’re looking for something more advanced, Camtasia Studio provides many more editing and presentation options. It costs a bit, but it does have a free trial period and frees you from the pesky 5 minute limit. Both programs have the ability to record a selected area of your computer screen and the audio to go with it. Also, new tools are coming out all the time. It's likely worth it to do a quick Google for new, free screencast software if you don't think these meet your needs.
Now, set up your graphics. Since we’ll be talking about line graphing, I’m going to want a coordinate axis set up in advance. I used screencapture (fn+f11 on my PC) to pull an image of a coordinate axis from one of the tests I use. I also plan to work with three slides, so I’ll paste the image I want into PowerPoint. I plan to have an introduction slide, a working the problem slide, and a summary or “right answer” slide. Since PowerPoint does not have a straight line tool available in presentation mode, when my problem involves graphing I like the neatness of a final answer screen. Now, my graphics are ready to go as Jing will allow me to play the PowerPoint while recording.
Work your problem. Before recording, take a moment to work your problem from beginning to end while taking notes on the problem’s key points. I also recommend talking through your problem aloud while you solve it, as you’ll be less likely to stumble later. Remember, you’ll need to keep things brief to stay under 5 minutes.
Secure the space. Make sure your phone is off, and put a sign on your office door saying, “If I’m talking I’m recording. Please leave me a note, but do not disturb!” You might want to invest in a small dry erase board or some Post-It notes for your door if you’re likely to do this often.
Record! Check your audio at the beginning of each recording session and have your practice notes on hand. Expect to make errors the first time you do it, but try to reach the end of the problem even if you mess up early. This will help you ensure you have your timing right. Keep your voice dynamic! You’ll improve with practice, so keep at it! Check your recording for good sound before publishing.
Publish your recording. Jing provides you with a file that you can save for viewing in your class or upload into a server of your choice. Screencast.com provides free accounts with 2GB storage and works well with Jing for this. Their sharing tutorial is linked to here. Essentially, once you upload to screencast.com, you will have a URL that you can paste into a website or email to a student.
There you have it! You’ve created a recording that explores additional concepts for your students that they can access at home and any time that they’d like. Perfect!
Instructor Notes
• If you need multiple slides, use Microsoft PowerPoint, or a similar presentation tool. Most will allow you to do markup while presenting. If you just need one screen to markup, Microsoft Paint or any basic image editor will suffice.
• I allow myself one caught error per recording. Any more than that and I believe the recording needs to be redone.
• If you want to capture an image from your screen to use in a slide presentation, on a PC hit the “Fn+F11" hotkey combo or the "print screen” button. This takes a snapshot of your entire screen. You can paste that snapshot into a PowerPoint slide or paint program. You can even use this to grab an image from the NROC presentation or worked examples if you need to further explain an example used there.
• If you want your students to demonstrate that they’ve viewed a recording, assign them to take notes on it and email or upload to you a scan or digital photograph of it.
• If you’re using an online learning management system such as Angel and have published an example recording via a link, the system can track which users have viewed that link. Assuming no two students work together, you can use this to track which students have viewed a recording as well.
• Keep things short, breaking things up into multiple videos as needed. This helps you as well if you’re using the free Jing software. It’s sure frustrating to have made a great recording only to stumble in the last minute.
Rubric
If you complete a recording and get it to your students, let me know about it here and give yourself an A!
Learning Objective(s)
• For the Teacher: Learn how to create and distribute a recording of your own.
Assessment Type
This post is aimed at teachers, not students. It uses the worked examples relevant to NROC's Algebra 1--An Open Course, Unit 6 Topic 1: Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing to show how one can add to the provided worked examples and supplement with examples made by the teacher.
Your finished example will look like the one linked to here:
Or, you can have students follow a link to reach a full size recording:
SolvingSystemsofEquationsbyGraphing3
Assignment Details
The worked examples in “Unit 6 Topic 1: Solving Systems of Linear Equations by Graphing” jump right in with some deep word problems. An example that goes straight to graphing the intersecting equations might help. Let's record that example, showing step by step solving and reviewing graphing. Of course, you can apply the same techniques to any problem you choose.
Set aside a few hours for this so you won’t feel rushed, and then have fun with it. After you’re familiar with the tools, making recordings is fast and relatively easy.
First, make sure you have an internet connected computer equipped with a microphone headset and drawing tablet. I’ve had good luck with using a Logitech USB headset and a Wacom drawing tablet. This will improve your sound quality and allow you to write out your equations neatly as you present. If you cannot get a tablet, I suggest you type out your work on separate PowerPoint slides. If you only have an area or laptop mic, give it a try and see if you find the audio acceptable.
Next you’ll need recording software. Download the free version of Jing if you’re only going to do simple recordings lasting five minutes or less. If you’re looking for something more advanced, Camtasia Studio provides many more editing and presentation options. It costs a bit, but it does have a free trial period and frees you from the pesky 5 minute limit. Both programs have the ability to record a selected area of your computer screen and the audio to go with it. Also, new tools are coming out all the time. It's likely worth it to do a quick Google for new, free screencast software if you don't think these meet your needs.
Now, set up your graphics. Since we’ll be talking about line graphing, I’m going to want a coordinate axis set up in advance. I used screencapture (fn+f11 on my PC) to pull an image of a coordinate axis from one of the tests I use. I also plan to work with three slides, so I’ll paste the image I want into PowerPoint. I plan to have an introduction slide, a working the problem slide, and a summary or “right answer” slide. Since PowerPoint does not have a straight line tool available in presentation mode, when my problem involves graphing I like the neatness of a final answer screen. Now, my graphics are ready to go as Jing will allow me to play the PowerPoint while recording.
Work your problem. Before recording, take a moment to work your problem from beginning to end while taking notes on the problem’s key points. I also recommend talking through your problem aloud while you solve it, as you’ll be less likely to stumble later. Remember, you’ll need to keep things brief to stay under 5 minutes.
Secure the space. Make sure your phone is off, and put a sign on your office door saying, “If I’m talking I’m recording. Please leave me a note, but do not disturb!” You might want to invest in a small dry erase board or some Post-It notes for your door if you’re likely to do this often.
Record! Check your audio at the beginning of each recording session and have your practice notes on hand. Expect to make errors the first time you do it, but try to reach the end of the problem even if you mess up early. This will help you ensure you have your timing right. Keep your voice dynamic! You’ll improve with practice, so keep at it! Check your recording for good sound before publishing.
Publish your recording. Jing provides you with a file that you can save for viewing in your class or upload into a server of your choice. Screencast.com provides free accounts with 2GB storage and works well with Jing for this. Their sharing tutorial is linked to here. Essentially, once you upload to screencast.com, you will have a URL that you can paste into a website or email to a student.
There you have it! You’ve created a recording that explores additional concepts for your students that they can access at home and any time that they’d like. Perfect!
Instructor Notes
• If you need multiple slides, use Microsoft PowerPoint, or a similar presentation tool. Most will allow you to do markup while presenting. If you just need one screen to markup, Microsoft Paint or any basic image editor will suffice.
• I allow myself one caught error per recording. Any more than that and I believe the recording needs to be redone.
• If you want to capture an image from your screen to use in a slide presentation, on a PC hit the “Fn+F11" hotkey combo or the "print screen” button. This takes a snapshot of your entire screen. You can paste that snapshot into a PowerPoint slide or paint program. You can even use this to grab an image from the NROC presentation or worked examples if you need to further explain an example used there.
• If you want your students to demonstrate that they’ve viewed a recording, assign them to take notes on it and email or upload to you a scan or digital photograph of it.
• If you’re using an online learning management system such as Angel and have published an example recording via a link, the system can track which users have viewed that link. Assuming no two students work together, you can use this to track which students have viewed a recording as well.
• Keep things short, breaking things up into multiple videos as needed. This helps you as well if you’re using the free Jing software. It’s sure frustrating to have made a great recording only to stumble in the last minute.
Rubric
If you complete a recording and get it to your students, let me know about it here and give yourself an A!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tutor Sim: Feedback While Reviewing Functions
The NROC tutor simulations can be used for individual review or whole class game play. As the student(s) answer a series of interactive multiple choice questions, the simulation first provides hints and then, at the end, suggests topics to review. With a little introduction and wrap up, the sims can be powerful review tools. This lesson plan uses the simulation from Unit Three - Tutor Sim: Snowboarding, which reviews the fundamentals of functions and their graphs. This lesson could be used with any NROC simulation. It describes the individual and whole class use of the tutor simulations.
Learning Objective(s)
- Review concepts before an exam.
- Identify areas for future study.
- Review slopes, proportionality, functions and their graphs.
Assessment Type
This assessment can be one of the last formative assessments done while preparing for a summative assessment. If done individually, it can help a student self-assess their learning needs. If done with a whole class, it can be used at the beginning of a class session to help the teacher get a sense of what the class still struggles with.
Assignment Details
Before beginning this with your class, take the time to run yourself through Unit Three's "Tutor Sim: Snowboarding." I recommend you get some answers wrong on purpose, so you can see how the simulation reacts. Upon completion, you'll also see the feedback given by topic at the end.
The two timed lesson plans below assume a 55 minute class session in a high school classroom.
If students can work individually with internet enabled computers:- 10 min– Warm Up. I have a warm up that I call, "Easy, Medium, Hard." Basically, as students enter the room I invite them to choose one easy, one medium, and one hard question from their homework and to write those three problems on the board for everyone to solve. After a few minutes working on the problems we share and discuss answers. If you have a trusted student or TA, it might help you to have them go around to each computer in your classroom and make sure the web page for the tutor sim is loaded and ready to go.
- 15 min—Have students get out their note paper and introduce them to the NROC Tutor Sim: Snowboarding then have them work through it at their own pace on their computer. I recommend that you require them to summarize each question (draw any graph given, write down key data and what you're asked to find), and to show both their work and answers (not just the letter of the answer). They need to work through the sim honestly (not just guess and check) because at the end of the tutoring session the sim will use their wrong answers to identify areas is which they are having difficulty.
- 15 min-- Having completed the tutor sim, students should copy down the suggested review sections as headings on a new sheet of paper, skipping 10 lines between each heading. They can then either fill those blank lines in with three example problems worked from their textbooks or with notes from going to and reviewing the presentations and problems from the NROC lessons dealing with the topic they had trouble with. If a student has no trouble, allow them to begin on their practice test or homework right away.
- 10 min—Gather the class together for a discussion of what topics are still giving them the most trouble. Provide some review on topics with which many students are struggling.
- 5 min—If you've not already done so, pass out any practice test or take home review sheet you have for students to complete. I often also offer 5% extra credit for 10 additional worked problems chosen by the student specifically to help them fill gaps that they realized they had today.
If one internet enabled computer and projector setup is available:
- 10 min– Warm Up. Do the "Easy, Medium, Hard" warm up described above. If you have a trusted student or TA, it might help you to have them get the projector setup and working while you help students with the warm up.
- 15 min—Have students in teams of four with one volunteer student running the sim for the whole class. As each question is presented, the teams should work together to solve the problem for a set amount of time. When time is called, the teams should show their answer to the student at front. Whichever answer appears the most, that is the answer picked. If your students like to be competitive, you can keep score. Require that the person writing down the answer switches with each question and remind students that all team members need to understand and agree on the answer.
- 5 min – Check in with the class about the topics covered with the sim and take a moment to summarize concepts and field questions. Now is a good time to pass out a practice exam or to introduce a set of review questions.
- 20 min—Allow the students to work in small groups on the review questions. If you've noticed a subset of students struggling on a particular topic, you can pull that group aside to work with you or on one of the NROC lessons. If another group finishes early, you can encourage them to play a math game from the section.
- 5 min—Check in with students before they go. Ask them to reiterate and summarize some of the key concepts on their test. They can write on a slip of paper the topic they plan to study most and one strategy (flash cards, choose extra problems from the book, work in a study note, review online) they can use to study their chosen topic.
Instructor Notes
- Warning: The simulation does not have a back button. If needed, one can reload the web page and begin again.
- Students will want to test the sim--meaning give wrong answers on purpose--to see what the sim does. Such curiosity is great! I would encourage students to do so AFTER going through the sim once earnestly.
- If a student answers all sim questions correctly and has no topic that needed more work, they should show you the completion screen. You can then initial their paper so you know that they did not just skip that part of the assignment and can give them full credit.
- One could make an assignment asking students to design their own tutor sim. Students could present the answer options as a flow chart and even look into creating a basic simulation using linked web pages.
Rubric
If students worked individually, have them turn in their notes and problems from the tutor sim along with their completed practice test.
10 Point Scale: Tutor Sim Notes
2pts – Problems from the tutor sim are numbered and organized clearly.
2pts – All problems are written out with key data and answers shown.
3pts – Follow-up topics are identified OR student showed you they'd made no errors on the tutor sim and had you sign off on their paper before leaving that day.
3pts – All follow-up notes or problems (three per topic) are written out and solved correctly OR your signature shows they were not required to do the follow questions.
Total= 10pts
10 Point Scale: Practice Test
5pts – Practice test is complete, readable, and received. Work is clear and understandable. Give an approximate percentage of 5 points based on what percentage of problems meet this criteria.
5pts – Answers are correct. Give an approximate percentage of 5 points based on what percentage of problems meet this criteria.
Total= 10pts
Friday, June 10, 2011
Algebra Equations to Budget a School Party
Having learned the basics of making and solving equations, students use their knowledge to budget for an imaginary school event. Students can follow up with budgeting for a real event or fundraiser.
Learning Objective(s)
- Translate real life situations into word problems.
- Translate word problems into algebraic expressions and equations.
- Apply algebra principles to everyday problem solving.
Assessment Type
This middle through high school appropriate summative project from NROC's Algebra 1--An Open Course, Unit 2 Team Project: Students Rule can act as a capstone assessment in which students showcase their skills by presenting results from their algebraic comparison of different pricing plans for a school event. Alternately, the problems from the project can be used as a standalone single class assignment.
Assignment Details
Before beginning this with your class, take the time to read through "Team Project: Students Rule" completely. You’ll find three interesting class party budgeting problems followed by a larger project based on presenting findings. Decide if you want to do this as a small, single class exercise (just doing and discussing the three word problems), or do you want to follow through with a full project. If you’re just doing the problems, you can paste them into a separate document from the overall project and print them as a worksheet that omits mention of the larger project. Otherwise, you’ll want to print the whole project prompt, one copy for each group.
The timed lesson plan below assumes you’re doing a standalone, 55 minute class session using and discussing the problems provided. Suggestions for fully implementing the project (with presentation and follow up investigations) follow.
- 10 min– Have your students write to this prompt, “If you had $200 to throw you and ten of your friends a party, what would you do? How about if you had $2000 and threw a party for the school?” Have fun talking about options, ideas, and possibilities. While you do so, find ways to turn the ideas into equations and record these on the board.
- 10 min—Today’s goal is to use algebra equations to answer real life questions about budgeting. Break students into small groups and hand out the instructions and three questions from the project. Students will record their answers individually even though they are working in a group. Expect to help them pretty heavily with the first problem, but do give them as much of an opportunity as possible to solve it on their own. I recommend giving them five minutes to read the problem to each other in their groups, then check in with them to see if they’ve come up with equations to represent the budget problem. If not, help them break it down into key points. Once equations are built that make sense, give them five more minutes to solve the equations they’ve come up with, and then again compare answers and discuss results.
- 20 min (10 min per problem) – Students should now complete problems 2 and 3 in small groups while you circulate and help if needed. If a group finishes early, either check their answer yourself or have them check their answer against the results of another group when it finishes. If a group is completely stuck, but you’re already helping a group, you can invite the stuck group to send out one of its members as a spy to see what a more successful group has come up with. Groups that finish early (and correctly) should be invited to graph their cost equations from one of the problems on a white board or poster for others to see. Require correct axis labeling (recommend that the cost goes on the y axis, the variable appropriate for each problem on the x axis) and clarity as to which equation goes with which line.
- 10 min—When all groups are finished, check that all have reached the same conclusions as to which vendors would be best to choose based on the budget numbers given. Discuss any discrepancies. Extend the discussion by referring to the graphs made by the groups that finished early. Have the students explain to you under what circumstances it would make sense to choose another vendor and justify it based on the graph. Ask them if to identify the point of intersection of the two equations from their problem. Can they tell you the meaning of that point? (Its where the cost and benefit would be the same regardless of which vendor was chosen.) This leads nicely into a discussion of systems of equations.
- 5 min—Working individually students should summarize the results of the day in their own words. They can add this to the end of the page on which they solved their problems. I sometimes call these “Dear Me,” notes, as the goal here is for the students to take note of any realizations that they’ve had during class.
Instructor Notes
- If you’re working with a middle school class or lower level high school class, having them create presentations as described in the NROC project would be great. If your class has access to a computer lab completing the presentations should be do-able in about two more class sessions. I would ungroup the students for this part of the assignment, however, so each could learn the editing skills needed to make the presentation. A rubric is provided as part of the project.
- To extend this, have the students create a budget and use their algebra to compare options for a real life situation. Competing cell phone contracts can be good for this. Or, of course, they could really research and plan a school party.
- If you have a class interested in service learning, this would be a great introductory project for a charity fundraiser. Student groups could discuss and research a local need and create competing proposals for a fundraising event to meet that need. When all projects are presented, the class could vote on one project to actually attempt to bring to fruition.
- If you know you have a student who has really been struggling with group work or making algebra equations in general, you can have that student go online and use the NROC tutor simulation “Building a Swimming Pool” which is also part of Unit 2 and covers turning a real life situation into an equation.
Rubric
A rubric for the project itself is provided in the NROC assignment description.
Alternately, if using a 10 point scale for grading only the word problems and group work in class:
5pts -- Time on task. Students stayed engaged and on topic working to solve the problems. All students in the group supported one another and invited contributions from each other.
3pts – All three problems are written out and solved correctly.
2pts – A separate summary of what was learned in class that day is provided.
3pts – All three problems are written out and solved correctly.
Total= 10pts
Friday, May 27, 2011
Constructing the Idea of Absolute Value
Using the NROC absolute value game, “Absolutely,” students construct the meaning of the absolute value symbol. They then collaborate to create a set of class notes and hypothesize about how the symbol effects solving for X in an equation.
Learning Objective(s)
• Find the absolute value of numbers.
Assessment Type
This 55minute high school level lesson introduces absolute value using “Absolutely,” a game from NROC's Algebra 1--An Open Course, Unit 2, Lesson 2, Topic 1: Absolute Value. The students act as collaborative investigators to solve the mystery of absolute value. The class activity is followed up with a written assignment to assess understanding.
Assignment Details
10min— Warm up your class with a reminder about negative numbers.
- Give them a few problems to solve as bell work, or see if you can use Socratic Questioning to lure them into explaining negatives to you.
10min— Introduce the new symbol | |, but not what it means. Tell the students it’s up to them to figure out how it works.
- As a framing device, the lesson can be built up as an archeological investigation in which the symbol, |x|, has been found as part of a machine left by a vanished civilization. The students must discover what this key symbol means!
- If using the framing device, you can claim that there’s a number code that needs to be figured out and tested to unlock a tomb, but you’ll only have one chance to get it right! Put on the board a few absolute value problems, the answers to which will be the code.
- They are your “Field Researchers.”
- “Absolutely” has students order integers (with or without absolute value symbols) from least to greatest by flipping around pairs of numbers mounted on gears. It provides deeper understanding than a standard introductory lecture on absolute value because of the higher level of cognitive engagement and the immediacy of feedback in the game situation.
- They are the “Senior Investigators” creating “Research Notes.”
- Clipboards and white lab coats can be fun to use.
- Encourage revision and neatening of the notes. This is an opportunity to teach good note organization skills.
- Present this as a consultation between the field teams and the senior researchers to ensure consistency before attempting the key code.
- Encourage more revision and feedback from the field teams.
- The class should propose a name for the symbol they now understand so well.
- Reveal the symbol’s established name is absolute value and discuss its use.
- If time: Invite students to hypothesis about how |x| + 7 = 10 will be solved.
5min— Homework – Students must write a paragraph explaining what the |x| means and including a few examples of their own making.
- Prompt: Your research has gained national attention and you need to write a one paragraph summary (at least 7 sentences) for newspaper publication explaining your techniques and findings. An original example must be included.
- Extra Credit Extension: |x| has been found in expressions and equations in nearby tombs. In a second paragraph, develop a hypothesis about how |x| + 7 = 10 will be solved OR how a negative number placed in |2x| + x would be evaluated.
- For the negative number review, the distance you walked to school can be a good example. Have +1 mile represent the distance to school and -1 mile represent the distance home. Overall, if you’re trying to figure out where you are at the end of the day, you’d add the positive mile and negative mile together to get 0 miles away from home. For tomorrow’s warm up or as part of class wrap up, you can introduce the idea that if you wanted to find the total distance walked (not just where you ended up), you’d do 1 + |-1| since direction wouldn’t matter.
- Keep things fun! Props like clip boards or a few lab coats can help your researchers get into their roles.
- If short on time, omit the “Key Code” questions or move them to homework.
- To encourage time on task, you can have each senior investigator working on separate boards with their teams of field researchers. Class notes are then moved to a single white board as part of a peer review process. The most successful research group will receive National Science Foundation funding (or be first dismissed from class)!
- Choose students who are not shy and who might have trouble with sitting still as your senior researchers. Advanced students also often like the Senior Researcher roll.
- You can also have two folks working at the boards as “Research Recorders” that your senior researchers report to if you need to have roles for more students.
- Pair a student who is likely to struggle with a stronger, helpful student.
Rubric
If notes are kept in a binder by each student, just mark them with a plus, check, or minus in a brightly colored pen as you circle the room. Later, a TA or you can count up the total number of pluses, checks, or minuses to calculate an overall grade for the notebook. Commonly, plus is 100%, check is 75%, minus is 50%, and 0 (earned if nothing is there or the students significantly disrupted) is 0%.
Alternately, if using a 10 point scale and collecting the notes and the homework paragraph the next day as a single assignment the following rubric can be used:
Notes and Paragraph Rubric
- 5pts – Class notes are neat, complete and clear. Points can be lost from this section if student was disruptive the previous day.
- 3pts – The paragraph explaining absolute value uses complete sentences that successfully communicate the meaning of |x|.
- 2pts – An original example is included and is correct.
Total= 10pts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Writing Real Life Algebra Equations
Learning Objective(s)
- Translate real life situations into word problems.
- Translate word problems into algebraic expressions and equations.
Assessment Type
This introductory lesson uses the presentation from NROC's Algebra 1--An Open Course, Unit 2 Topic 1: Solving Equations. It includes a low stakes formative assessment in which high school students create and illustrate a problem of their choice.
Assignment Details
- Let your class warm to the topic of making real life algebra equations. You can ask them to give examples of when they use math in real life or give them an example of your own. Have they ever had to write their problems down to figure them out? Tell them their objective for the day is to create a real life algebra problem of their own.
- View Unit 2, Topic 1: Solving Equations (4min). In this presentation, an equation is made to solve for the number of batches of cookies a person can make if they only have so much flour. In the presentation, "equation" is defined and properties of equality are also discussed. If you wish, you can have your students take notes.
- Lead the class through making a few example cookie batch equations—have fun with letting them choose ingredients and see how much they can do on their own (Socratic questioning techniques can help with this). Be sure to use correct algebra terminology as you go.
- When comfortable, break students into small groups (I suggest heterogeneous grouping) encourage them to discuss their favorite cookies amongst themselves to create a fun, excited atmosphere and lower apprehension about errors.
- Have students take about 30 min total to make and illustrate an equation for a cooking situation of their own. They should choose what they are going to make and what variable to solve for. (How many batches, X, can they make if they have 12 cups sugar to use up and the recipe calls for 4 cups of sugar in each choco-caramel cookie batch?)
- Have each group show you and each other what they've come up with after about 5-10min. This allows you to check their progress and give feedback as needed.
- Circulate the room checking on whether students have successfully made a real life equation. Once you approve a group's equation, give them a large piece of paper and marker to make their idea and equation into a large poster for your classroom.
- Students do not need to present a solution on their poster, unless they are done early and you need them to keep working on something! I prefer for the students to make the equation illustration with a large blank solution space. Then, the student-generated problems can be used as class warm ups in the future or student groups can trade and solve later.
- Fun and innovation should be encouraged. If students would rather make up an equation about car parts and cars, have them go for it!
- For a student who is feeling really stumped, the Unit 2 Tutor Sim, "Building a Swimming Pool,” can help with moving into representing word problems with symbols.
- For students needing a challenge: Can they make up a real life problem that involves more than one step, a problem involving addition and multiplication for example?
- For older students, a more grown up topic, could be used to make equations. Budgeting for a shopping trip or a vacation for example.
- This is a very scalable activity. If you don't have much class time, individuals can just set up their equation problems in class, then illustrate at home.
Rubric
If in a rush, you can use a basic, "Plus, check, minus," scale to represent 100%, 85%, 75%. Odds are low a group will earn less than that.
Alternately, if using a 10 point scale:
5pts -- Time on task. Students stayed engaged and on topic working to create their problem and present it. All students in the group supported one another and invited contributions from each other.
3pts -- Students created a neat and clear equation representing their problem and incorporating feedback you gave them. A word problem is written out, variables are defined, and the equation is shown.
2pts -- The equation is completely correct.
Total= 10pts
Hippocampus Correlation
Algebra 1--An Open Course, Unit 2 Topic 1: Solving Equations
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