Curated OER
Parabolas
Students define a parabola through hands on creation. In this algebra lesson plan, students analyze the directrix and focus of a parabola. They create a paper parabola and identify the vertex with points equal distance apart from the...
Fall River Schools
Parabolas Are All Around Us
Moving parabolas off of graph paper and into the real world is the task at hand in this detailed poster project. First, learners perform a cumulative activity identifying many characteristics of an assigned quadratic equation. Next, they...
National Woman's History Museum
Getting with the Program
A seven-step instructional activity introduces the emergence of computer sciences and the contributions women made to the profession after World War II. Several science experiments offer pupils a hands-on learning experience that...
Mathematics Vision Project
Circles and Other Conics
Through a variety of hands-on activities and physical scenarios, this far-reaching unit leads learners through an exceptionally thorough exploration of circles and parabolas as conic sections. Geometric construction techniques are used...
Curated OER
Rainbows, Bridges & Weather, Oh My!
Explore how real-world applications can be parabolic in nature and how to find quadratic functions that best fit data. A number of different examples of modeling parabolas are explored including a student scavenger hunt, the exploration...
Illustrative Mathematics
Springboard Dive
Quadratics and height application problems go hand in hand like teenagers and sleeping in. High schoolers must look at the equation of a diver's height and calculate such features as the height of dive board, time entering the water, and...
Inside Mathematics
Sorting Functions
Graph A goes with equation C, but table B. The short assessment task requires class members to match graphs with their corresponding tables, equations, and verbalized rules. Pupils then provide explanations on the process they used to...
Curated OER
Unit Plan On Quadratic Equations
Students explore a variety of ways of solving quadratic equations. Students choose from graphing, factoring, finding square roots, completing the square and using the Quadratic formula. They ponder in the end on polynomial equations.
Curated OER
Introduction to Conics
Just exactly where does the name conic come from? This brief hands-on exploration explains it all. Have your class cut cones to create their own conics, then assess their understanding with a few identification problems. Consider making...
EngageNY
Polynomial, Rational, and Radical Relationships
This assessment pair goes way beyond simple graphing, factoring and solving polynomial equations, really forcing learners to investigate the math ideas behind the calculations. Short and to-the-point questions build on one another,...
Illustrative Mathematics
Identifying Quadratic Functions (Vertex Form)
Pupils calculate the equation of a quadratic in vertex form from a specific graph and determine an equation that would fit the description of a parabola. The final question determines the individuals' understanding of the signs of the...
Curated OER
Writing in the Math Classroom
Students determine the vertex, y-intercept and direction of a parabola and write an explanation of how to graph a parabola. They collect and graph data using a calculator.
Curated OER
Exploring Quadratic Data with Transformation Graphing
Using a data collection device to collect data regarding a bouncing ball, young scholars use various features on graphing calculators to experiment with the parameters of the vertex form of the parabola and their effect on the shape of...
Illustrative Mathematics
Building an Explicit Quadratic Function by Composition
Use an activity to illustrate the different forms of a quadratic function. Here, the task asks learners to use composition of given functions to build an explicit function. The process emphasizes the impact of the order of composition...
Curated OER
Solving Quadratic Equations
Explore methods of solving quadratic equations. Review linear functions through playing a "face off" game. Using a graphing calculator, graph quadratic functions and identify the parabola. Define the number of roots in a linear equation...
Curated OER
Graphs and Functions
Use this series of activities to introduce learners to graphing functions. They graph both linear and quadratic equations by hand and with a Graph Sketcher Tool. Several imbedded links and handouts are included in the lesson plan.
Curated OER
Quadratic Functions And Their Graphs
Students engage in a classroom discussion about the shape of a parabola using real world examples. They define and discuss the important vocabulary and the teacher scaffolds by making clarification as necessary. For practice students...
Curated OER
Visualizing the Solutions of a Quadratic Equation
Learners explore the quadratic equation and methods of solving. They examine the relationship between the parabola and the solution of an algebraic equation. Students compare the linear equation to the quadratic equation. They graph...
Curated OER
Introduction To Quadratics
Students explore the concept of quadratic functions and review how to solve and graph linear functions. They play a game for reviewing linear functions to stay engaged in the lesson and then plot and graph a multitude of different...
Inside Mathematics
Functions
A function is like a machine that has an input and an output. Challenge scholars to look at the eight given points and determine the two functions that would fit four of the points each — one is linear and the other non-linear. The...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Exploring Quadratics and Graphs
Young mathematicians first graph a series of quadratic equations, and then investigate how various parts of the equation change the graph of the function in a predictable way.
Curated OER
Circles
Students graph circles. In this graphing instructional activity students write equations for circles. Students solve equations for circles and graph the results.
Curated OER
Systems of Equations
Students solve systems of equations. In this algebra lesson, students use elimination and substitution to solve for the point of intersection. They use graphing to see where the two lines intersect.
Curated OER
Hang Time
Students discuss how all objects fall at the same rate and vertical motion is independent of the horizontal motion. Students apply this information to center of mass activities before solving equations.