WebQuest

A Lesson on Slope

A WebQuest for 7th Grade (Pre-Algebra)

Rebecca Triana
rtriana@ms.spotsylvania.k12.va.us

Introduction

Why do you suppose skiers can often be heard saying, “I’m going to hit the slopes.”? What do you think they are referring to?

The Task

By completing this task, you will gain an understanding of slope, how it is used, how to calculate slope, and how to make predictions based on the slope of a line.

To accomplish the task:

First you'll be assigned a teammate
You will then need to visit each of the 4 sites and complete each practice page associated with the websites.
You and your teammate must agree on the answers to the problems on each practice page
For the final task, you will be asked to make a prediction based on the slope of a line from a given set of data.
As a team, you must write a three paragraph report supporting your prediction
You and your teammate must staple each of the practice pages with your three paragraph report in the order they were completed to receive a grade
Finally, you and your teammate will be asked to share your prediction with the class. Be prepared to answer questions and support your prediction.
You will have 5 class periods to complete this quest so use your time wisely.
You and your teammate will receive a grade for team efforts as well as an individual grade for completion of this project. See the rubric for specific requirements.

Site 1:

This is a good graph.	This is a bad graph.

You will need to visit Graphing Overview. Click on Straight Line and read the lesson presented taking notes as you go. This website will give you a refresher on plotting points in a coordinate plane and connecting the points to make a straight line.

Practice Worksheet 1: Print out the worksheet LinearEquations, one for each partner. Write both partners’ names on the worksheet and complete the questions (Remember, you both must agree on the answers.)

Go to Graphit to check your answers by entering your ordered pairs and watching it automatically graph. Compare your graph to the one the computer generates.

Site 2: http://mathforum.com/cgraph/cslope/

This site will give you a good overview of lines and slope. Remember to take notes as you go.

Practice Worksheet 2: Print out the worksheet task, one for each partner. Write both partners’ names on the worksheet and complete the questions (Remember, you both must agree on the answers.)

Site 3: - intercept Intercepts Lesson

This site will give a detailed lesson on x and y-intercepts that can be used to graph a line. Be sure to take notes as you go.

Practice Worksheet 3: Print out two copies of the worksheet LinearEquations and write both partner’s names on each worksheet.

Site 4: Slope and Graphing Lesson

This site will give a detailed lesson on using the standard form of slope (y=mx+b). Be sure to read carefully and take notes as you go.

Practice Worksheet 4: You will need to take a short Math Test with your partner before completing the practice page. This should help you recall necessary information before working out problems. Print two copies of the worksheet LinearEquations to complete writing both partners names on both of the worksheets.

Final Task: Slope and Y-intercept

In this final task, you will be asked to make a prediction on the weight of a baby at 1 year, 2 year, and 14 years old. Follow all provided instructions on the webpage Slope and Y-intercept to complete this task. This is where you will need to write the 3 paragraph report supporting your prediction. Be sure to give background information, explain the slope of the graph and support your prediction. You may use a graph to aid in supporting your prediction.

Additional Resources You May Find Helpful

conclusion – extend your thinking; can you solve this problem?

Graphing Equations –using a data table

Graphing Equations – slope

Graphing Equations – using intercepts

Graphing Equations – practice problems graphing slope

Graphing Equations – practice problems graphing with slope and one data point

Slope Lesson – additional lesson on slope if you need further explanation

Writing Equations – using slope-intercept form

Simple Plot – an interactive graphing tool that will allow you to give ordered pairs to plot on a graph; this won’t show the function rule but will give you a picture of what your graph should look like

Slope Slider – an interactive tool that allows you maneuver a line to change its slope; see what a positive slope looks like compared to a negative one

Evaluation

	Poor 1	Fair 2	Good 3	Excellent 4	Score
Individual Completion of Four Worksheets (One Grade)	The student completed one or less worksheet.	The student completed more than one but less than two worksheets.	The student completed more than two but less than four worksheets.	The student completed all four worksheets and turned them in on time.
Group Completion of Eight Worksheets, Three Paragraph Report, and Answer to questions on final web site (Part One of Four)	The students completed and turned in one or two worksheets.	The students completed and turned in three or four worksheets.	The students completed and turned in five or six worksheets and the three paragraph report and tried to answer all questions on the final web site.	The students completed and turned in seven or eight worksheets, the three paragraph report, and all the questions on the final web site.
Group Accuracy of Eight Worksheets (Part Two of Four)	The worksheets were not fully completed and/or were below average in accuracy.	The worksheets were more than partially but not fully completed and/or were average in accuracy.	The worksheets were fully completed and were average in accuracy.	The worksheets were fully completed and were above average in accuracy.
Group Three Paragraph Paper (Part Three of Four)	The paper was incomplete.	The paper was complete but was weak in content.	The paper was complete but the content did not support the prediction.	The paper was complete and the content supports the prediction.
Group Presentation (Part Four of Four)	The students did not present.	The students were not prepared and were unable to support their prediction.	The students were prepared but were unable to fully support their prediction.	The students were prepared and able to fully support their prediction.

Conclusion

Who knew you could find so much information on the web about math besides the typical math games? After completing this webquest, you should have a clear understanding of slope, how to find it, how to graph it, and how it relates to real world situations. Can you think of any other situations that slope would apply in the “real world”?

Credits & References

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/graphing.htm

http://www.edhelper.com/LinearEquations5.htm

http://www.shodor.org/interactive/activities/graphit/index.html

http://mathforum.com/cgraph/cslope/

http://mail1.ncsd.k12.wy.us/~nancy_pickett/task.html

http://www.uqmcal.org/images/cartoonmen/animated_men/Animation_purple.gif

http://www.edhelper.com/LinearEquations8.htm

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/intercept.htm

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/slopgrph.htm

http://library.thinkquest.ort/20991/quizzes/prealg/q2/test.html

http://www.edhelper.com/LinearEquations13.htm

http://www.smilebug.com/picszzz/baby.jpg

http://www.sci.wsu.edu/~kentler/Fall97_101/Images/3_3/slope.gif

http://Faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/webesp/557-005/tellez

http://www.shodor.org/interactive/activities/simpleplot/index.html

http://www.shodor.org/interactive/activities/slopelsider/index.html

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page