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Public Activity Library

The attached activities are lesson plans, activities, or tasks that teachers have created as participants in this project. These focus on teaching and learning with the instructional technologies of either Geometer's Sketchpad dynamic geometry software or Fathom dynamic statistics software. Most of the activities are created mainly for high school Algebra 1 and Geometry courses, however a few are created for Algebra 2 courses. These activities are posted for public use. More relevant material is available in the Resources page.
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Algebra Activities using Fathom


Lesson Title: Bouncing Ball & Rebound Heights

Role Model Videos - Windlift and/or Transportation Roadways & Vertical Curves

Synopsis - This activity is designed to use the Go!Motion sensor to look at behavior of a bouncing ball, including rebound heights. Each bounce is represented by a quadratic function, and successive maximum rebound heights can be modeled by an exponential function.

Materials - Go!Motion sensor, Fathom, Logger Lite (if using VCL), balls that bounce well, two computers

Notes - Activity works best with groups of 3-4. Roles include: 1) student to hold the sensor, 2) student to drop the ball, 3) student to monitor experiment and manage data in Fathom/Logger Lite, and 4) a team leader to keep the group organized and on task by following actitvity displayed on their computer.

Activity File:

Bouncing Ball


Lesson Title: More Is Less

Submitted By: Angel Rouson

Role Model Video: Windlift

Tags: Functions, Interpreting Data/Functions, Graphing Quadratic Functions, Rewriting Functions

Common Core Alignment: F.1F.1, F.1F.4-F.1F.9, F.BF.1, F.BF.3, F.BF.4, F.LE.3

Synopsis: This activity is designed to use Fathom software to record a controlled experiment involving bottle rockets. Each trial will use a different percentage of water capacity in the bottle to discover the amount of water that will give the rocket maximum height. It will help model quadratic functions and interpret the effects of controlled input values on each output value.

Materials: 16oz. bottles (standard 9/16" opening), water, cardboard, glue/tape, paint (decoration), link: http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k-12/bottlerocket/br2d_b.swf

Notes: This acitivity can be conducted in two ways: 1) The class can build their own bottle rockets and shoot them off in an open area or outdoors. 2) The class can use the website to simulate bottle rocket launches instead of building rockets from the materials.

Attached are the instructions as well as a Fathom file with sample data.

Activity Files:

More is Less - Bottle Rockets

Bottle-Rocket


Lesson Title: Launching Model Rockets and Using Piecewise Functions

Submitted By: Seth Risinger

Role Model Video - TechShop RDU Founder and UAV Pilot

Tags - Functions, Exponential, Piecewise, Analyzing & Interpreting Graphs

Common Core Alignment - F-IF.1 , F-IF.2, F-IF.4, F-IF.7

Synopsis - This activity is designed to compare a simplified model of a rocket launch to the actual data collected from an altimeter in a model rocket. Students will be modeling the quadratic pattern in the simplified version, and using a piecewise function from the actual launch

Notes - The Prelaunch calculations are complicated but do a good job teaching student's organization. The rocket launch isn't necessary, but is something the students enjoyed!

Materials - For the parabolic activity:Algebra 1 Fathom Book Activity, Student Experiment Handout and Questions

For the AFM Extension:-SkyTrax rocket data set and Fathom Workspace ,-Pre-Launch Calculations page,

-Launch Day Calculations page, -Post Launch Modeling Packet

For an actual launch:-Estes launch starter set that includes a payload rocket, -PerfectFlite Pnut Altimeter and USB data capture cord

Activity Files:

Phases of a Rockets Flight

Parabolic Model Rocket.ftm

Piecewise Model Rocket.ftm

Quadratic Model Rocket Fathom Activity.docx

PostLaunch With Fathom.docx

Modified PostLaunch With Fathom.docx


Lesson Title: Using Gym Memberships to Understand Systems

Submitted By: Felicia Persky

Role Model Video - Video Game Production Designer

Tags - System of Equations, Graphing Linear Equations, Application of Systems

Common Core Alignment - A.REI.6 Solve system of equations, A.REI.1.2 Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically

Synopsis - This activity is designed to apply system of equations to the real-world situation of gym memberships. The students will conduct their own reasearch and use Fathom to analyze and interpret the graphs associated with purchasing a gym membership.

Materials -Fathom, two computers

Notes - Activity works best with groups of 3-4. Roles include: 1) two students to research gym rates 2) student to input the data into Fathom and create the tables and graphs, and 3) a team leader to keep the group organized and on task by following actitvity displayed on their computer.

Activity Files:

Systems of Equations Activity.docx

Gym Memberships.ftm


Lesson Title: Customer Satisfaction

Submitted By: Katie Mullins

Role Model Video - Customer Value Analyst - Jennifer Tripoli

Tags - Critical Thinking, Functions, Lines, Slopes, LSRL, Predictions

Common Core Alignment - S - ID.6a, S - ID.6c, S - ID.7, S - ID.8

Synopsis - This activity is designed to use Fathom to analyze real world customer satisfaction data to discover the relationships within the data and make predictions of furture customer satisfaction ratings.

Materials - Fathom, Food Data.csv, Airline Data.csv, Car Data.csv, Department Stores Data.csv, Hotel Data.csv

Notes - Activity is designed to work in pairs. Extension project is available within the lesson. Sample Student Food Data Fathom Lesson is attached.

Activity Files:

Customer Satisfation.docx

Food Data.csv

Airline Data.csv

Car Data.csv

Department Stores Data.csv

Hotel Data.csv

Food Data Fathom.ftm


Lesson Title: Faster and Farther

Submitted By: Kevin McDaniel

Role Model Video - Systems Biologist - Cranos Williams - North Carolina State University

Tags - Functions, Linear, Quadratic, Motion Detector

Materials - Go!Motion sensor, Fathom, Logger Lite (if using VCL), five cars, two computers

Description: In this activity students, working in small groups, will conduct an experiment in which they formulate conjectures to determine which variables influence the velocity and total distance traveled of a car rolling down a ramp. They will test their conjectures by conducting a lab using Fathom and motion detectors and matchbox cars

Activity Files:

Faster and Farther Student.doc

Faster and Farther Template.docx

CarRoll.ftm

Honors Project Answer Key.doc


Lesson Title: Linear Equations and Real World Meanings of Slope

Submitted By: Brittany Bell

Role Model Video Pairing: Transportation Roadways and Vertical Curves

Keywords: Linear Equations, Lines, Slopes, Variables, Critical Thinking

Alignment to Common Core:

Students will interpret functions that arise in applications in terms of the context.

F-IF.4 For a function that models a relationship between two quantities, interpret key features of graphs and tables in terms of the quantities, and sketch graphs showing key features given a verbal description of the relationship.

F-IF.5 Relate the domain of a function to its graph and, where applicable, to the quantitative relationship it describes.

F-IF.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.

F-IF.9 Compare properties of two functions each represented in a different way (algebraically, graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions).

Students will build a function that models a relationship between two quantities.

F-BF.1 Write a function that describes a relationship between two quantities.

Synopsis:

You are taking a nice drive in your beautiful car, when suddenly your brakes fail and your car is driving out of control. This activity will allow you to test several different surfaces to see which one would be ideal to safely stop your car.

You will simulate several "test drives" onto different available surfaces and determine which surface provides the best and safest stopping material for your "vehicle".

Materials: One (1) toy car (bigger than a matchbox car works best), One (1) cardboard ramp approximately 6 inches, Go! Motion detector, Laptop with Fathom connection and Logger Lite, At least 3 different surfaces

Activity Files:

Project Surface.docx

Transportation Project.ftm


Lesson Title: Investigating Screen Brightness LCD Light and Holography

Role Model Video - LCD Light and Holography

Tags - Linear Functions, Modeling, Exponential Functions,

Common Core Alignment - F-IF 4-7

Synopsis - This activity is designed to use the Vernier Light Sensor to create a model to represent the change in brightness level for a computer display screen. Some models may represent a linear relationship; others may represent an exponential relationship.

Materials - computer screen(s) or cell phone(s) with brightness adjusting capabilities, fathom, logger lite, vcl, go!Link, Vernier Light Sensor

Notes - Activity works best with groups of 3. Roles include: 1) student to hold the sensor, 2) student change the brightness level, and 3) a student to monitor experiment and manage data in Fathom/Logger Lite.

Activity Files:

Investigating Screen Brightness.docx

Samsung Brightness.ftm

Macbook Brightness.ftm

Light Intensity of a Computer.ftm


Lesson Title: Gem of a Gym, Applying Systems of Equations

Submitted By: Candace Bailey

Description: The lesson plan attached is an application of systems of equations. Students will research gym memerships. Following their collection of data, they will compare the costs of different plans if a gym has more than one plan as well as compare memberships from gym to gym.

Students will find out which gym is the best to join for a certain amount of time. Students will be working in small groups (2 - 4) to research and create tables and graphs for the different options/gyms in Fathom.

Students will also be using Fathom to analyze and interpret the graphs created (and the least-squares line to find where graphs intersect).

Common Core Alignment - A.REI.6 Solve system of equations, A.REI.1.2 Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically

Notes - Activity works best with groups of 2-4.

Roles include: 1) at least one student to research gym rates 2) student to input the data into Fathom and create the tables and graphs, and 3) a team leader to keep the group organized and on task by reading the activity displayed on their computer.

Activity File:

Gym Comparison.docx


Lesson Title: Ball Bouncing The Quadratic and Exponential Relationships

Submitted By: Kevin McDaniel

Description: Attached you will find a Word document with Fathom Screen Shots that go through a lab that using Fathom and different types of balls. The student will be able to run a lab and find quadratic and exponential functions related to data collected. A major topic of discussion will be the a,h,k variables of a quadratic as well as the a,b variables of an exponential. A final discovery should be the idea of the "b" value of an exponential and it's relationship to loss of energy due to gravity.

Activity File:

Fathom Ball Bounce ExpQuad.docx


Lesson Title: Energy Consumption

Description: Exponential function activity to pair with role model video by systems engineer Joe DeCarolis.

Activity Files:

Lesson Plan.docx

Energy Use Worksheet.docx

Energy Use.ftm


Lesson Title: Angry Birds: The Parabolic Version

Role Model Video: Video Game Production Designer- Shaun McCabe

Keyword: Quadratics

Common Core Standards:

A. SSSE. 3a,3b, 3c

A. CED. 1, 2, 3, 4

F.IF. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Synopsis: The making of video games often involves a lot of math concepts. This lessons uses the idea of a very popular game today, Angry Birds! The birds are always bombing those pigs! The fight path of each bird just happens to be parabolic. In this lesson, the students will use Fathom to find the flight path.

Notes: Students should have worked with Fathom some and understand the basic working of the programs and its menus. You could extend this lesson by using the motion detector probes and collecting your down data by setting up your own game.

Activity File:

Angry Birds - Fathom.pdf


Lesson Title: Exploring Families of Graphs

Submitted By: Anna Head

Role Model Video: Biomedical Engineer - Greg Sawicki, NCSU

Common Core Standards: Math F-IF 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9; Math F-LE 1, 2, 3

Synopsis: This activity asks students to creates several functions using a motion detector. They will discover how time and distance traveled can be used to create linear, quadratic, and exponential graphs.

Materials: motion detector, Fathom software, computer, large flat surface (large piece of cardboard works great)

Notes: This activity can be used with beginners. The instructions are very basic and easy to follow.

Activity Files:

Families of Graphs.docx


Lesson Title: Analyzing Quadratic Graphs

Submitted By: Anna Head

Role Model Video: Role Model Video: Transportation Roadways and Vertical Curves

Common Core Standards: Math F-IF 4 7, 8; Math F-BF 1, 3

Synopsis: This activity asks students to create quadratic models using motion detectors and a bouncing ball, then asks them to find the equation of best fit for the data. They will explore the affects of the coefficients of the quadratic equation on the graph.

Materials: motion detector, ball, Fathom

Activity File:

Quadratic Equations.docx

Note: Students will need minimal experience with Fathom.


Lesson Title: Modeling Functions

Submitted By: Katie Mullins

Role Model Videos: IBM Worldwide Client Support, Vice President - Wendy Toh and Engineering Careers - Windlift

Common Core Standards: Math F-IF 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9; Math F-LE 1, 2, 3

Synopsis: This activity has the students creating ten sepecific funcitons using the motion detector. By creating the graphs, the students will make conjectures about how time influences the distance that is traveled.

Materials: motion detector, Fathom software, computer, large piece of poster board or card board

Notes: This activity can be used with little to no Fathom experience.

Activity File:

Modeling Functions.docx


Lesson Title: Modeling Quadratic Functions

Submitted By: Anna Head

Role Model Videos: Biomedical Engineer - Greg Sawicki, NCSU and Common Core Standards: Math F-IF 4 7, 8; Math F-BF 1, 3

Synopsis: This activity has students creating a model of a quadratic function from a data set. They must use sliders to match their model as closely as possible to the data describing each transformation that happens when they manipulate the sliders. The students must also use their model (or graph) to make predictions and draw conclusions about the data in the context of the given situation.

Materials: Fathom

Notes: Students will need minimal experience with Fathom.

Activity File:

Modeling Quadratic Funtions.docx


Lesson Title: Modeling Exponential and Logarthmic Functions by Bouncing a Ball

Submitted By: Katie Mullins

Role Model Video: Any

Common Core Standards: Math F-IF 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9; Math F-BF 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Synopsis: The Fathom activity has students gathering data by bouncing a ball and transforming the data to represent the ball actually bouncing on the floor. Next, they are to gather the maximum values in a table and graph the values, showing an exponential model. From there, the students will create a model for the expoential data, then create an inverse for the data and the logarthmic model for the inversed data. The students will be required to make predictions and conjectures throughout the process.

Materials: bouncing ball, motion detector, Fathom

Notes: Students will need minimal experience with Fathom.

Activity Files:

Modeling Exponential and Logarithmic Functions.pdf

Bouncing Balls.pdf


Lesson Title: Exponential Decay and Medication Dosage

Role Model Video: Oncology Nursing

Description: A fathom file, an activity worksheet and a lesson plan are attached. These are intended to be used in conjunction with the Oncology Nursing role model video and relate to how exponential decay impacts mecication dosage when a medication is to be administered at regular intervals over time.

Activity Files:

Morphine Dosage.ftm

Morphine Dosage.docx

Dosage Activity.docx


Lesson Title: Linearizing Data

Submitted By: Kevin McDaniel

Description: Attached you will find a Word Document and two Fathom documents. The word document and one of the fathom documents are for the students to have. The other fathom document is the Key. This is a great lab when teaching AFM and linearizing data. A student must have background knowledge of linearizing and fathom before attempting this lab.

Activity Files:

Linearize.ftm

LinearizeKey.ftm

Linearizing Data Fathom.docx


Lesson Title: Linear Equations and Line of Best Fit

Submitted By: Brittany Bell

Role Model Video: Fashion Designer

Description: In this lesson, students will find the correlation between arm span and height and relate this activity to the role model video of a fashion designer.

Activity File:

Fashion Designer.doc


Lesson Title: Box Plots - Insurance"

Submitted By: Heather Davis

Role Model Video: Analytics and Data Optimization

Description: In this activity, students will work in pairs to create and compare box plots then characterize the data as skewed left, skewed right, or symmetrical. Students will write up a report on their findings being sure to include graphs in their findings.

Activity Files:

Box Plots Insurance.pdf

Insurance.ftm

Insurance Premiums Fathom Report.docx


Lesson Title: Meet in the Middle Systems of Equations

Role Model Video - Video Game Production Designer

Tags - System of Equations, Graphing Linear Equations, Application of Systems

Common Core Alignment - A.REI.6 Solve system of equations, A.REI.1.2 Represent and solve equations and inequalities graphically

Synopsis - This activity is designed to use systems of equations to solve a real-life problem with travel and intersection points. The students will have to create their own linear equations to represent each situation, then graph them to determine the solution. They will also be asked to analyze their graph and think about ways they could change/improve their outcome, using Fathom to test these ideas.

Materials -Fathom, Meet in the Middle Sheet

Notes - You could also use this with less "precise" data, and have the students determine a linear regression for each traveler first, then use that to predict a crossing point.

Activity File:

Meet in the Middle.docx


Lesson Title: Comparing City Temperatures

Submitted By: Anna Head

Role Model Video: Customer Value Analyst

Key words: mean, median, mode, 5 number summary, box plot, dot plots

Common Core Standards: S-ID 1-9, S-ID 1-6

Materials: Lesson handout, Student worksheet, Fathom document

Description: This activity uses Fathom to analyze city temperatures to compare mean, median, and mode. It can be paired with Customer Vaue Analyst video.

I found this activity online at http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMAT6680Fa06/Parker/Fathom/Fathom-Mac.htm. It was created by Kelli Parker. It includes a lesson plan, student handout, and Fathom document with data. Students who are fairly new at Fathom should be able to complete this activity.

Activity Files:

Comparing City Temperatures.doc

Comparing City Temperatures Student Worksheet.doc

Comparing City Temperatures.ftm


Lesson Title: Systems of Equations - Big Business Project

Submitted By: Felicia Persky

Role Model Video: Systems Biologist

Description: Students will need to design their own business product and develop their financial business model.

Activity File:

Systems of Equations - Big Business Project


Lesson Title: Quadratic Exploration

Submitted By: Candace Bailey

Description: In this activity, students will plot a set of ordered pairs. They will explore the standard form of the quadratic equation as well as the vertex form of the equation through the use of sliders. With Fathom, the students will try to minimize the sums of the squares of the residuals between the expected value and the quadratic equation. There are several questions on the word document, meant to make the students think about how each of the values affect the graph of the quadratic equation. The students should be able to see what effect each of the values have on the graph of the parabola as well as how the values relate to the vertex, the roots/solutions/zeros.

It is suggested that after the students explore in small groups/pairs, that you come back and discuss the findings as a class.

This would be helpful before students get out of the unit on quadratics. There could be other questions that could be added in (about y-intercept, zeros/roots/solutions, etc.).

Activity File:

Quadratic Exploration.docx


Lesson Title: NBA Top Thirty

Submitted By: Felicia Persky

Role Model Video: Analytics and Data Optimiztion

Description: Using the data from the National Basketball Association, let's draw some conclusions about these players.

Activity File:

NBA Top Thirty


Lesson Title: Runners Slope

Submitted By: Pamela Edwards

Role Model Video: Biomedical Engineer

Algebra 1 with Fathom Activity: Runners- Slope

Synopsis: Students will complete the Fathom activity to get a deeper understanding of slope, steepness of a line and being able to determine the slope directly from the graph based on observations of the graph of the line

Activity File:

Understanding Slope


Lesson Title: Model Rockets

Submitted By: Pamela Edwards

Role Model Video: Windlift, Robert Creighton

Common Core Standards: F.IF.7

Synopsis: This activity attached below is designed to use Fathom software to record a controlled experiment involving bottle rockets. Each trial will use a different percentage of water capacity in the bottle to discover the amount of water that will give the rocket maximum height. It will help model quadratic functions and interpret the effects of controlled input values on each output value.

Activity File:

Model Rocket


Lesson Title: System of Equations, High Jump Records

Submitted By: Pamela Edwards

Role Model Video: Video Game Production Designer - Shaun McCabe

Common Core Standard: FI.F.7

Description: This activity will be used to guide the students through solving system of equations in a real world problem.

Activity File:

Systems - High Jump Records


Lesson Title: Polynomials and Polynomial Equations: Predicting the Future of Energy

Submitted By: Dwayne Jackson

Role Model Video: Systems Engineer - Joe DeCarolis, NCSU

Keywords: linear Programing, Rational Expressions, Polynomial Functions

Common Core Standards: N.Q.1, N.Q.2, N.Q.3, N.CN.9, A.APR.1, A.APR.2, A.APR.3, F.IF.1, F.IF.2, F.IF.3, F.IF.4, F.IF.7

Synopsis: The Student will need to analyze the behavior of Polynomial Functions. The video of System engineer deals with the use of practice patterns ( algebra Models ) of Energy being ran in order to forecast and predict the energy used based on variables. The student will need to use fantom to predict the behavior of function with the change of degrees and coefficients.

Notes: Students should have worked with Fathom some and understand the basic working of the programs and its menus.

Predicting the Future of energy Polynomial Functions

Goal: To predict the future of the polynomial function by changing the degree, and coefficients.

Materials: Paper with polynomial patterns, fantom, pencil

Directions: 1. You are to graph the polynomials functions in fantom. 2. Analyze the graph with each change in degree and coefficient. 3. Note the beginning and the ending of each function with each change.

Polynomial Patterns!! ! ! ! Name:

Using Fathom, graph the functions below. In the table, record the requested information for each function.

Activity File:

Polynomials and Polynomial Equations: Predicting the Future of Energy


Lesson Title: Inverse Functions

Submitted By: Dwayne Jackson

Keywords: Inverse Functions, Radicals, and Roots

Role model Video: LCD Light and Holography - Michael Escutki

Activity File:

Inverse Functions


Lesson Title: What Price Should You Sell Your Nutrition Drink?

Submitted By: Seth Risinger

Description: Here is a lesson with an accompanying Fathom file that allows students to use both linear and quadratic models to determine the best price for their new nutrition drink.

Activity Files:

Sales_And_Profits.pdf     Sales.ftm

Nutrition Drink Quadratic Lesson.pdf

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0929543. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.