Curated OER
Stretching the Quads
Explore parabolas in this algebra lesson with the graphing calculator. The class investigates what effects the changing of the parameters of the vertex form of a quadrati have to its graph. They find the zeros of a quadratic graphically...
Concord Consortium
Parameters and Clusters II
Let's give parameters a second try. Scholars take a second look at a system of linear equations that involve a parameter. Using their knowledge of solutions of systems of linear equations, learners describe the solution to the system as...
Radford University
Rocket Quads
How high will it fly? Pairs build straw rockets and launch them at different angles and determine the height and horizontal distance of the flight path. Teams make conjectures about how the angle affects the measured distances and use...
EngageNY
Vectors and the Equation of a Line
Represent linear equations in both two and three dimensions using parametric equations. Learners write parametric equations for linear equations in both two and three variables. They graph and convert the parametric equations to...
GeoGebra
Getting on the Right Wavelength
Predict an equation that waves up and down. Pupils set the height, radius, and period of a Ferris wheel. The learners write a sine equation to match the graph of the height of a point on the wheel as a function of time. Running the...
Illustrative Mathematics
Exploring Sinusoidal Functions
What effect does changing a parameter have on the graph of a trigonometric function? Pupils use a Desmos applet to explore the general sine graph. They experiment changing different parameters and record the resulting change of the...
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...
Mathematics Common Core Toolbox
Golf Balls in Water
Here's a resource that models rising water levels with a linear function. The task contains three parts about the level of water in a cylinder in relationship to the number of golf balls placed in it. Class members analyze the data and...
Illustrative Mathematics
How Many Leaves on a Tree? (Version 2)
A second attack at figuring out the number of leaves on a tree, this activity makes both an excellent follow-up to version 1 and a stand-alone activity. Learners practice setting parameters and deciding acceptable estimate precision, and...
Concord Consortium
Parameters and Clusters I
Chase the traveling solution. Pupils analyze the solutions to a system of linear equations as the parameter in one equation changes. Scholars then use graphs to illustrate their analyses.
Curated OER
Unit 2: Global to Local: Understanding My Place in the Hydrosphere
What does the ground around your home have to do with water pollution? Young ecologists learn about their local watershed and create their own cause-and-effect models of the hydrosphere.
Curated OER
Investigating Equations of Lines
High schoolers investigate linear equations as they use technology (Cabri, Jr.) to explore the equations of lines in slope-intercept form. The technology allows learners to manipulate the line and observe the changes in the parameters of...
American Chemical Society
Controlling the Amount of Products in a Chemical Reaction
Everyone enjoys combining baking soda and water. Here is a instructional activity that challenges scholars to analyze the reaction three different ways — the real substances, the chemical equation, and the molecular...
Colorado State University
If You Can't Predict the Weather, How Can You Predict the Climate?
Why is the weather man wrong so often? Young climatologists discover how chaos rules both weather and climate through a math-based activity. Using an iterative equation, the class examines how small day-to-day weather events total up to...
EngageNY
Curves from Geometry
Escape to investigate hyperbolas. Pupils take a look at what happens to the elliptical orbital path of a satellite that exceeds escape velocity as the opener to the eighth lesson plan in a unit of 23. Scholars analyze basic hyperbolas...
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Correlation and Line of Best Fit
Computers are useful for more than just surfing the Internet. Pupils first investigate scatter plots and estimate correlation coefficients. Next, they use Microsoft Excel to create scatter plots and determine correlation...
Curated OER
Linear Modelling of the Life Expectancy of Canadians
Middle and high schoolers explore the concept of linear modelling. In this linear modelling lesson, pupils find the line of best fit for life expectancy data of Canadians. They compare life expectancies of men and women, and find...
Yummy Math
Parametric Equations and a Heart
Trigonometry, art, and Valentine's Day come together in a creative activity about parametric equations. Learners calculate several equations before graphing them either by hand, on a graphic calculator, or Excel spreadsheet to curve...
Illustrative Mathematics
Baseball Cards
Here is a resource that demonstrates growth and the initial state of an equation. In this case, your class will be looking at baseball collections. How many baseball cards did the collector start out with, and how many were added or...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Modeling Motion: Rolling Cups
Connect the size of a rolling cup to the size of circle it makes. Pupils view videos of cups of different sizes rolling in a circle. Using the videos and additional data, they attempt to determine a relationship between cup...
Teach Engineering
Ice, Ice, PV!
Knowing the temperature coefficient allows for the calculation of voltage output at any temperature. Groups conduct an experiment to determine the effects of temperature on the power output of a solar panel. The teams alter the...
Shodor Education Foundation
InteGreat
Hands-on investigation of Riemann sums becomes possible without intensive arithmetic gymnastics with this interactive lesson plan. Learners manipulate online graphing tools to develop and test theories about right, left, and...
Firelands Local Schools
Exponential Growth and Decay
How can you safely model exponential growth and decay? A hands-on activity uses candies to model not only exponential decay, but also exponential growth. Exponential equations are fitted by hand and by use of a calculator...
Curated OER
Worksheet 28: Parametric Equations
In this parametric equations worksheet, students read informational paragraphs and answer 10 questions regarding parameter, velocity, speed, curvature, parametric equations, and scalar curvature.