Activity
KITES: The Snow is Falling! The Snow is Falling!, 7 - 8
Course, Subject
Algebra I (Next Generation), Math, Science & Technology, Mathematics (NYS P-12 Next Generation)
Grade Levels
Intermediate, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
Procedure
- Pose snowfall problem as described in the Activity Sheet 4, Item 1. Snow falls at a constant rate over a period of several hours. There is no snow accumulation when snowfall begins.
- Have students create a table of values for nowfall over a period of 5 hours.
- Have students write an equation to model the situations.
- Have students graph the equation using their table of values.
- Pose a variation of the problem (see Activity Sheet 4, Item 2) with a different rate of snowfall.
- Have students write the equation that models the situation and sketch a graph.
- Discuss the slope as a rate of change and relate the slope to both the equations and the graphs.
- Pose a third variation of the problem (see Activity Sheet 4, Item 3) with initial snow on the ground.
- Have students write the equation that models the situation and sketch a graph.
- Discuss the concept of y-intercept and how it relates to both the equation and the graph.
Objectives
Students will:
Recognize, describe, and generalize a wide variety of patterns and functions.
Describe and represent patterns and functional relationships using tables, charts, and graphs.
Develop an understanding of functions and finctional relationships.
Description
Patterns help children make sense of the real world. When children are encouraged to look for patterns, they become better problem solvers. Discovering and identifying patterns in numbers and geometry help children make connections between patterns and functions and encourages good mathematical thinking. These connections support the learning of more abstract concepts in the later years. The idea of a functional relationship can be developed in the early years by exploring and observing patterns. In the middle years, the emphasis is on recognizing, describing, and generalizing functional relationships. This lays the foundation for more formal study in the high school years.
Using problem simulations, students will explore the pattern of snow accumulation and possible variations to develop an understanding of functional relationships. As the activities proceed through the grade levels, various methods of describing, representing, and extending patterns will be introduced.
Resource/Materials
Activity Sheet
Source
Adapted from the NYS Department of Education publication, A Toolkit for Mathematics Educators: Key Idea Tasks to Enhance Success (KITES)
