#3458. Slopes of Lines

Mathematics, level: Middle
Posted Thu Apr 28 16:24:27 PDT 2005 by Ashley Crippen (aecrippen@rmwc.edu).
Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg, USA
Materials Required: handouts with pictures of slopes, worksheets, wooden triangle, trasparency, overhead, calculators
Activity Time: 30 minutes
Concepts Taught: finding the slope, describing the slope, determining the slope given an equation, graphing

Subject: Math (specifically slopes of lines)

Goals: The student will understand how to determine the slope of a line when given an equation of a line or the graph of a line.

Rationale: To provide exposure to real life experiences that utilize math concepts.
Objectives: TSWBAT
• Find the slope of a line
• Describe the slope as positive or negative
• Determine the slope given an equation in slope intercept form
• Graph a line with a given slope

Standards: SOL A.7

Ability Levels: 9th grade students or varying abilities

Set/Introduction:
• What comes to your mind when you think of the word "slope"?
Where do you see slopes in the real world?
-Jot down ideas on the board.
• Pass out pictures of slopes to each student.
• Have students come to the board and plot the line of their picture using an estimate of points located on the line.

Procedures:
• So what exactly does slope mean in mathematical terms?
• Positive vs. negative slopes
-how to determine whether a slope is positive or negative
• Determining the slope:
Given a graph.
-use two examples already on the board
*hands-on example on overhead.
ask for volunteer to plot points.
Given an equation:
-slope-intercept form
-one teacher-led example, one student-led example
-general equation
-one teacher-led example, one student-led example
• Pass out worksheet for practice on determining slope from graphs and equations
• Ask for volunteers to do problems 1-3.
• Pass out graph paper for practice on graphing slope.

Time Required: 30 minutes

Materials:
• Handouts with pictures
• Worksheets
• Wooden triangle, transparency, overhead projector
• Calculators?

Activity:
• Graphing the lines/slopes of the pictures on the board
• Practice worksheet

Guided Practice:
• Examples done on the board
-What is slope?
-Positive vs. negative
-Determining slope using a graph or equation
-slope-intercept form/general form

Technology:
• Overhead projector
• Computer/Internet
• Calculators

Homework:
• Completion of worksheet

Assessment/Evaluation:
• Personal observations
• Completion of worksheet
• Ability to graph on board