Creating Linear Equations

Estimated Planning Time: 10-20 minutes to review materials and print

Estimated Lesson Time: 1 50 minute class periods

Materials needed: Attached document

Students chose one of the 3 scenarios to model using a linear equation. Students then had to write about how realistic their equations were. This is a more guided project and great introduction to projects for students. Students will be asked to write in complete sentences and interpret their answer within the context of the problem.

Lesson Plan

Investigate the World in Algebra Class

Estimated Planning Time: 10 - 60 minutes depending on the lesson and data research needed. See some of the other resources to find ready to use data!

One way to help algebra students to investigate the world is to modify curriculum tasks so that they include data with a more global focus. Included here are two different tasks that require students to find the average rate of change. The first task includes population data from states within the United States. The second task includes world population data separated by age groups. Both are real world data sources, but the second task pushes students to consider what it means to be a citizen of the world, how the population the world has changed over time, and what might have caused those population changes for different age groups.

The above task from Illustrative Mathematics Algebra I Curriculum requires students to find the average rate of change of population data from California and Texas modeled in a graph.

The modified task also gives students the opportunity to practice average rate of change, but the included data from the Pew Research Center modeled in the graph is estimated global population data.

Recognize Perspectives in Algebra Class

Estimated Planning Time: 10 minutes to incorporate authentic sentence starters in lessons

One way to help algebra students to recognize perspectives is to help them to develop interpersonal and intrapersonal skills while learning math. Students need structures for interacting with people who are different from themselves. Students need opportunities to justify their own thinking and to critique the reasoning of others in a respectful manner. See the website below for sentence stems that students can use when having whole class and small group discussions about mathematics.

Sentence Starter Ideas

Communicate Ideas in Algebra Class

Globally competent students need lots of ways to communicate their ideas about mathematics. Teachers need to be able to assess student thinking, determine what students know, and understand what they can do. See below for various ways that students can communicate their thinking.

To download the interview sheet used in the video, go to https://www.edutopia.org/video/simple-strategy-get-students-talking-about-math

Check out this video from Mr. Connell at Henderson Inclusion School and Edutopia. Students in his class have opportunities to work on problems and then conduct structured interviews based on their work.

Skew the Script

Estimated Planning Time: 10 -20 minutes to review and print materials. Lessons and student materials are already made!

Estimated Lesson Time: Depending on lesson. Ranges from 1 50 minute class to 4 50 minutes classes.

Skew the Script provides real world data for Algebra I and II. "We firmly believe that teaching socially relevant math prepares students to become more informed and engaged citizens. This orientation towards math instruction doesn’t mean teaching with a political bias – rather, it means teaching students how to identify bias through lessons that promote mathematical reasoning around “messy” social issues that don’t have one “right answer.” Importantly, we’ve found that this way of teaching authentically engages students, which also helps them understand the math itself at a deeper level." China Cardriche and Dashiell (Dash) Young-Saver