Lesson Plan

Ferris Wheels—Using Trigonometric Functions to Model Cyclical Behavior

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Have class members going in circles as they model the path of a Ferris Wheel using trigonometric functions. Building on the previous instructional activity in this series on transformations, learners use trigonometric functions to model wheels of different heights and diameters. 

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CCSS: Designed
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Use the scaffolding tips to differentiate within your classroom
  • Discuss different problem solving strategies before attempting the first challenge
Classroom Considerations
  • Learners need graphing calculators or graphing software to complete the activity
Pros
  • Examples and practice problems provide a range of difficulty
  • Provides a set of problems for independent practice, including a worked-out answer key
Cons
  • None