E-mail: oakesj@corydon.shcsc.k12.in.us
Grade Level: High School
Subject Area: Algebra I Topic: Linear Modeling
IN Standards: A1.3.1, A1.3.2, A1.4.5
ISTE Standards: I, III, VI
Descriptions
This is a lesson that utilizes spreadsheets to help students examine linear modeling.
Equipment
Needed
Wood pieces or trim (angled or corner works best) to be used as ramps
Tape measures
Marbles
Computers with Excel
Steps
of Lessons
1. Students will roll marbles down a ramp from three different heights from 10 cm to 25 cm.
2. Students will then measure how far they roll from the bottom of the ramp using tape measures.
3. Students will then use Excel to record their data.
4. Students will then use Excel to create a plot of their data.
5. Students will then use Excel to draw a line of best fit on their plots.
6. Students will then print out their data and their plots with the line of best fit.
Follow-up
Questions:
Students will then use this plot and line of best fit to predict how far the marble will roll from heights of 35 cm and 50 cm. Then they will have to write how they got those numbers and what they represent. Also, they will have to state what they believe the slope of that line represents.
Rubric:
|
|
CATEGORY |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Data Table |
Data
in the table is well organized, accurate, and easy to read. |
Data
in the table is organized, accurate, and easy to read. |
Data
in the table is accurate and easy to read. |
Data
in the table is not accurate and/or cannot be read. |
|
Title |
Title
is creative and clearly relates to the problem being graphed (includes
dependent and independent variable). It is printed at the top of the graph. |
Title
clearly relates to the problem being graphed (includes dependent and
independent variable) and is printed at the top of the graph. |
A
title is present at the top of the graph. |
A
title is not present. |
|
Labeling of X axis |
The
X axis has a clear, neat label that describes the units used for the
independent variable (e.g, days, months, participants' names). |
The
X axis has a clear label that describes the units used for the independent
variable. |
The
X axis has a label. |
The
X axis is not labeled. |
|
Labeling of Y axis |
The
Y axis has a clear, neat label that describes the units and the dependent
variable (e.g, % of dogfood eaten; degree of satisfaction). |
The
Y axis has a clear label that describes the units and the dependent variable
(e.g, % of dogfood eaten; degree of satisfaction). |
The
Y axis has a label. |
The
Y axis is not labeled. |
|
Accuracy of Measurements |
All
points are close to the line of best fit. |
Most
points are close to the line of best fit. |
Only
a few points are close to the line of best fit. |
No
points are close to the line of best fit. |
Follow-up questions will be graded based upon their graphs and will be graded as correct or incorrect.
Student Worksheet
Let’s Get Linear
Name_________________________________ Period______ Date_________________
Equipment Needs
You will need a piece of wood to use as a ramp, a marble, and a tape measure.
Instructions
1. You are going to roll a marble down your ramp from three different heights between 10 cm and 25 cm. You can choose any three heights between 10 cm and 25 cm.
2. Once you roll the marble down the ramp, measure how far it rolled from the bottom of the ramp.
3. Repeat this at least three times for each of your heights.
4. Record all of these values in an Excel worksheet.
5. Label the left column as height of the ramp and record your numbers for the height in this column.
6. Label the right column as distance the marble rolled and record your numbers in this column. You should have at least nine sets of numbers.
7. The next step is to highlight all of these values including the labels and make a SCATTER PLOT of your data.
8. Once the plot has been made you will need to use the design option (Excel 2007) to add a trendline.
9. Use this trendline and your graph to answer the following questions.
Follow-up
1. How far will the ball roll from a height of 35 cm? How did you get this value?
2. How far will the ball roll from a height of 50 cm? How did you get this value?
3. Use two of your points to find the slope of your line.
4. What does the slope of your line represent?
(Example student product of Excel spreadsheet)
