Day 114: Graphing Functions

6th Grade Math Standards: 6.NS.8 Solve real-world and mathematical problems by graphing points in all four quadrants of the coordinate plane. Include use of coordinates and absolute value to find distances between points with the same first coordinate or the same second coordinate.

6.NS.9 Use variables to represent two quantities in a real-world problem that change in relationship to one another; write an equation to express one quantity, thought of as the dependent variable, in terms of the other quantity, thought of as the independent variable. Analyze the relationship between the dependent and independent variables using graphs and tables, and relate these to the equation. For example, in a problem involving motion at constant speed, list and graph ordered pairs of distances and times, and write the equation d = 65t to represent the relationship between distance and time.

The Learning Objective: Graph functions based on an input and output table.

Agenda:

1. Equation word problem jumpstart
2. Homework review
3. My favorite no
4. Graphing functions notes
5. Graphing functions homework
6. McSquare & McTriangle (find the rule based on a pattern)

The Assessment: My favorite no made a connection to the homework in one class and to finding a rule in the other two classes. The one class I made the homework connection with because their work was subpar.

The other assessment came with the homework which was essentially done in the class.

Homework: Finding the rule practice based on the notes.

My Glass Half-Full Take: Graphing is easy once students differentiate in a word problem the output and the input. For students that have grown used to circling what they know, putting the input and output in the right place in a table is relatively simple. For students that are not used to it, they automatically put it in the input column. I am glad that I have hammered into students minds at this point that they should be circling what they know and underlining what they do not know.

One Thing I Wish I had Done Differently: The McSquare and McTriangle activity is nice, but for many students it wasn't enough of a challenge. I am going to have visual patterns ready in the event of this next year and give students a problem that involves a quadratic if we need a further challenge.