High School Grade  Lesson 55 minutes

"Student Activity Adventure Quest"

Liz Wooten
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.5
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.6
CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.9
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Purpose

This learning experience aims to deepen students' understanding of functions by relating them to real-world urban planning scenarios. Through hands-on activities and community engagement, students will explore how different representations of functions provide insights into practical challenges like population growth and resource allocation. By leveraging technology, students will graph functions and interpret their significance, ultimately presenting their findings in a community setting to foster meaningful discussions and reflections.

Learning goals

Students will analyze and interpret the key features of function graphs to understand their real-world significance, particularly in urban planning contexts. They will utilize technology to graph and compare functions, gaining insights into population growth and resource allocation. Through collaboration with community partners, students will apply mathematical concepts to solve authentic problems, enhancing their ability to communicate mathematical ideas effectively.
Standards
  • CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.5 - Relate the domain of a function to its graph and, where applicable, to the quantitative relationship it describes.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.7 - Graph functions expressed symbolically and show key features of the graph, by hand in simple cases and using technology for more complicated cases.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.B.6 - Calculate and interpret the average rate of change of a function (presented symbolically or as a table) over a specified interval. Estimate the rate of change from a graph.
  • CCSS.Math.Content.HSF-IF.C.9 - Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way (algebraically, graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions).

Products

Students will develop a comprehensive virtual reality experience that simulates urban planning scenarios, incorporating function graphs to address and solve real-world challenges. Throughout the project, students will create detailed graphs, tables, and equations representing various urban planning data, such as population growth and transportation patterns. By the end, students will present their virtual reality solutions at a community event, demonstrating their understanding of function representations and their applications in urban planning.

Launch

Kick off the learning experience with a 'Function Hunt' where students, divided into teams, explore their community to identify real-world examples of functions, such as traffic patterns or park attendance. Each team will use smartphones or tablets to capture data and images, which they will later use to create graphs utilizing graphing software. This hands-on activity sets the stage for understanding how mathematical functions are embedded in everyday life and primes students for deeper exploration throughout the lesson.

Exhibition

Students will host an interactive virtual reality showcase where they present their urban planning simulations to community members, local government representatives, and peers. Attendees will navigate through the virtual environments, experiencing firsthand how function graphs inform decisions on urban challenges like traffic management and resource distribution. This exhibition will include live demonstrations and Q&A sessions, allowing students to articulate their findings and solutions, while receiving feedback and engaging in meaningful discussions about the impact of mathematics on real-world issues.