8th Grade  Project 1 week

"Soccer Field Equations: Goal-Scoring Strategies Unlocked!"

Caleb R
CCSS.Math.Content.8.EE.B.5
CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.A.3
CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.B.4
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Purpose

This project engages students in analyzing soccer game data to explore how proportional and linear relationships can be applied to real-world scenarios. By modeling the dimensions of a soccer field using linear equations, students gain insights into how these dimensions influence gameplay strategies. Through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, students develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts while connecting them to practical applications in sports.

Learning goals

Students will analyze soccer field dimensions and player positions to identify linear relationships, using these to understand gameplay strategies. They will graph proportional relationships, interpreting the unit rate as the slope, and compare different representations. By constructing functions to model these relationships, students will determine and interpret the rate of change and initial value, applying these concepts to real-world soccer scenarios. Through a digital presentation, they will communicate their findings, demonstrating how linear equations can influence strategic decisions in soccer.
Standards
  • CCSS.Math.Content.8.EE.B.5 - Graph proportional relationships, interpreting the unit rate as the slope of the graph. Compare two different proportional relationships represented in different ways.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.A.3 - Interpret the equation y = mx + b as defining a linear function, whose graph is a straight line; give examples of functions that are not linear.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.8.F.B.4 - Construct a function to model a linear relationship between two quantities. Determine the rate of change and initial value of the function from a description of a relationship or from two (x, y) values, including reading these from a table or from a graph. Interpret the rate of change and initial value of a linear function in terms of the situation it models, and in terms of its graph or a table of values.

Products

Students will collect and analyze soccer game data to create a series of graphs and equations that model the relationship between player positions and field dimensions. They will develop a digital presentation showcasing their findings, including linear equations that represent field dimensions and their impact on gameplay strategies. The final product will be a comprehensive analysis that students present during a gallery walk, allowing them to compare and discuss their models with peers.

Launch

Kick off the project with a field trip to a local soccer field or a virtual tour of a famous stadium. Have students observe and sketch the field dimensions, noting player positions and movements during a game or practice. Encourage them to discuss how these dimensions and positions might influence gameplay strategies, setting the stage for their exploration of linear relationships in soccer.

Exhibition

Students will present their digital presentations in a gallery walk format, where each student sets up a station showcasing their soccer field models and analysis. Peers, teachers, and invited guests will circulate the room, engaging with presenters to discuss the mathematical relationships and gameplay strategies depicted. This interactive exhibition encourages dialogue, feedback, and appreciation of diverse approaches to modeling and interpreting soccer field dimensions and their impact on the game.