2-1 What's the Function? Marbleslides

In this delightful and challenging activity, students will begin with an SEL lesson that has them watch a video about how you determine your value and you should not let circumstances diminish that value. In terms of the math class, it speaks to how we address mistakes and move forward. Students will reflect on the video and then complete a 3-2-1 summary in random groups of 3 to get used to their new team. In Activity 1, students will explore functions by transforming linear, quadratic, absolute value, exponential, logarithmic, polynomial, rational, and radical functions so that the marbles go through the stars. Students will test their ideas by launching the marbles and will have a chance to revise the parameters in the equations before trying the next challenge. Each level focuses on a particular parameter to teach students how changing the values for that parameter affects the graph. The levels are split by Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 functions, so this lesson can be used with both courses to introduce students to the functions. Activity 2 allows the students use their creativity and critical thinking to tackle #MarbleslidesMonday challenges posted on social media. The students will be creating their own functions by choosing at least two different types of functions to use and writing their own equations from scratch. While students must complete one challenge for a grade, they will have all the rest as Check Your Understanding problems. In Activity 3, students will be put into random teams of 3 and assigned a particular function type. They will work together to create a poster to summarize how changing the parameters in their function affects its graph. Then they will participate in a gallery walk and talk. For Activity 4, the students will look back on their work in this assignment and describe how they used the mathematical practices to complete it.

By Amber Riel