WebQuest
Exploring Linear Equations and the Cartesian Plane
Process (Steps to Complete)
The Process below will help you reach the goal of understanding Linear Equations. Do the steps in order without skipping any important websites.1. Create a Mac Pages Document - save it as (name.last.mathwebquest) This is where you will store the information you gather, especially things you have learned. This is also the document that you will turn in to the instructor when you have completed the unit. You will also need to record a variety of graphs, cut and paste information from the web, and demonstrate that you have completed all the tasks. At the top of the page, put your Name/Class, Date, and a Title. You will submit these documents, through email, when directed by the teacher.
2. Start with a Pre-Quiz (NOT THE FINAL QUIZ AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!!!) to see how much you already know. Follow the link below and answer the eight questions the best you can. Copy and paste BOTH the questions/answers and the graph into your Pages document. Label this the "Pre-Quiz Step 2". When you are finished with the quiz, answer the following questions and write them in your Pages document below the Pre-Quiz with your group:
- What grade would you give yourself and why?
- What are the vocabulary words or concepts that you don't understand - write them down?
- The "score" button doesn't work - so discuss the correct answers with your group and write about what similarities or differences you have.
3. Review the basics of the Coordinate Plane that you learned last year. Below are two links that will help you look up vocabulary, discuss specifics of points, remind you of the axes, and review the four quadrants. While you are reviewing you must write down a minimum of ten words with their definitions, paying special attention to any information you are not familiar with or are having trouble remembering. Label this page, "Cartesian Plane Basics Step 3".
- Go to this website and read about the Cartesian Plane. Make sure you visit all four pages.
- Follow the link below. Pass through the four steps and do the workout at the end.
4. Practice a few problems on plotting.
- Go to this website and read about the Cartesian Plane. Write about a couple things that you learned from this website and if you made it to the third level. Label this page "Plotting Points Game Step 4".
- Then try this website to practice plotting points. It is similar to the one above but hopefully helpful in different ways. In the paragraph above, explain which game you like better and would want to play again.
5. Use the program "Grapher" to explore the formula "y = mx + b". Now that you understand points and have practiced plotting we need to get to the good part - lines. Determine what each variable in the formula represents and how it affects the line. "Grapher" is found on your Mac (look it up in Spotlight) and can be used to graph all sorts of lines. We will only be looking at straight lines that are in Slope-Intercept Form "y = mx + b".
- Create a new page in your document and label it "Grapher Exercise Step 5".
- Copy and paste a minimum of twelve different lines into your document and don't forget to label all of them by their Slope-Intercept Form. (I was able to get four graphs on a page, including the title and all labels.)
- On the "Grapher Exercise" page, answer the following questions. (Hint: Start with small easy numbers.)
- What do negatives do to the line?
- What do fractions do?
- What happens if you make "b" equal to zero? Make "m" equal to one or two.
- What does zero do to the "m"? Keep "b" the same.
- What does the "m" stand for in the Slope-Intercept Formula?
- How does changing "m" affect the graph?
- What does the "b" stand for in the formula?
- How does changing "b" affect the graph?
6. Explore the Slope-Intercept Form. The following website and videos discuss the most important aspects of lines. Be sure to take notes in your math journal, even if it seems easy. Start a new page in your document and label it "Graphing Equation Answers Step 6". Using the information you wrote down in your journal write one or two paragraphs explaining the website and videos in your Pages document.
- The first part in this site will help look at vertical lines. The second parts looks at horizontal lines. The third part talks about the "slope". The fourth part shows the "y-intercept". There is even an "Interactive" tool that may help you see how different lines look when they are written in a formula.
- Below are two videos that discuss how to graph a line in slope-intercept form. Be sure to watch them both - or feel free to watch other videos on the same subject if you need more help. Make sure to talk to your teacher if there are any questions that you still don't understand.
7. Develop some rules of your own that will help you understand the y=mx+b formula. In your document, create a page and label it, "Slope-Intercept Form Rules Step 7". Use the websites and information you have gathered to write down a minimum of ten things you know to be true about lines in slope-intercept form. Remember NOT to just cut and paste - that is cheating! You must put the rules in your own words.
- The following website might help to give you some ideas.
8. Practice more problems graphing different lines and recognizing different lines. When you get finished with both websites, write one paragraph about what you learned for each website - label this page "Practice Recognizing Step 8". (If you didn't learn anything, then write two paragraphs for each website on how you could improve them and why they were unhelpful.)
- Here is a website to help you with graphing. Watch at least three videos and take notes in your math journal.
- Here is a website to help you with graphing. Play this game and see what level you can get to. See me if you are having trouble or need help.
9. Discuss different problems that apply Linear Equations to the world around us. When both you and your partner have reached this step, discuss the following video and brainstorm together.
- Write down five situations where Linear Equations are found in Real Life (besides math class). Label this page, "Application of Slope-Intercept Form Step 9". Watch the following video to get some ideas.
10. Pass the QUIZ (located after the EVALUATION page) to ensure you have really learned about Linear Equations - you should only take this quiz one time! Below are three websites where you can practice before taking the real quiz. After taking the quiz write a three paragraph reflection on the ten steps here on the Process page. Label this page, "Reflection Step 10". You may use the questions below to help you write the three paragraphs - please do not only answer the questions with short responses!
- How well do you think you did on the Final Quiz? Is this an accurate score of what you think you know about the Slope-Intercept Form? Are there areas on the quiz that you know but still did not get correct? What are they and why did you get them wrong?
- How much time did you spend working on this project? How hard did you work and how do you know? What grade would your overall web quest project deserve? Does your grade reflect how hard you tried, as well as what you learned?
- How did the websites, videos, and Grapher tool help your learning? Is there something that might have helped you learn better? Did the individual web quest help you to develop a deeper understanding of Slope-Intercept Form and why? Remember, web quests are supposed to be self-directed, student-centered, and website specific.
Here are the online quizzes to help you prepare for the exam. Use these quizzes as tools to help you gain a better understanding for what is expected.
You also need to look at the Rubric page and the Conclusions page. Review how this project will be graded and use the questions on the Conclusion page to help you write your own reflection.
The Public URL for this WebQuest:
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=60812
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