Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Algebra: First Semester Lesson Plans 16-17

I stopped blogging here since it wasn't generating much interest or feedback. If anyone happens to be following along here, I just posted my first semester Algebra plans on The Fischbowl.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Day 17

We continue our work with Systems of Linear Equations.

Our opener will be Basketball Shots 2 (the sequel to their homework assignment)

Our lesson will include working through Atomic Weights (probably together), then the Types of Solutions activity builder, and then solving a couple of systems by both substitution and elimination for practice.

For homework they will decide when it might be best to use substitution and when it might be best to use elimination.

Day 16

Today's opener will be a short review of solving a system of equations by substitution.


Then we'll use this Activity Builder to start talking about solving systems by elimination. I tried combining (and tweaking slightly) two activity builders that I thought went well together, but I'm a bit worried it might be too much for the roughly 50 minutes I'm hoping to give for it. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Their homework will be a solving systems by elimination problem involving atomic weights. This might be a stretch for them, especially if we they don't have any class time to start on it (and I hope they do). That's partially why I'm not making this one a screencast (the other part of that partial is just to give them a break from making screencasts.)

Update: Changed the homework to Basketball Shots and moved the atomic weights to part of the lesson the next day. Just felt like it was a bit too complicated to give them that quickly.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Day 15

We'll start with an opener that eases them into solving systems of equations by substitution.

We'll then complete the On The Road Again Activity Builder to learn more about systems.

Their assignment will be to record a screencast discussing solving a system by substitution.

Day 14

We'll start with a short assessment over function notation and application.


We'll then begin looking at Systems of Equations using the Racing Dots Activity Builder.

Their assignment will be to complete the Playing Catch Up Activity Builder.

Monday, June 6, 2016

Day 13

Today will continue to talk about best fit lines and learn the least squares regression equation.

The opener will again be practicing finding x and f(x), but in the context of a best fit line.



Our lesson will continue with the air travel situation but in a Part 2 of the Air Travel Activity Builder. We'll now focus on a "best" fit line over a "hey, it looks good" fit line, and talk about what the correlation coefficient means. I really think the idea behind this one is sound, but I think the execution of it still needs a lot of work. Suggestions appreciated.

For homework they will complete a linear regression application problem. I think this one is pretty good, but it may be a case of me really liking it and the students not so much. We'll see.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Day 12

Today we'll start talking about informal lines of best fit (soon to lead to correlation regression, and causation).

We'll start with an opener that practices solving an equation using function notation.

We'll then work two through Activity Builders, Line of Best Fit and then Air Travel (based on Dan Meyer's post from what seems a long time ago).

For homework I'll have them complete a short reading assignment (as well as look at some spurious correlations), then write a short summary of a second article (their choice).