Math4All
Math Playground: Save the Zogs
Curator: Marcie Hughes
Brief Description of Tech Tool: Little blue critters called Zogs are scattered across a grid. Find the linear equation of a line that will cross (and thus save) the most Zogs as possible!
Link to Tech Tool or Tool homepage: http://www.mathplayground.com/SaveTheZogs/SaveTheZogs.html
EVALUATION
Description of Learning Activity
This activity helps students develop an understanding of linear equations and their graphs. Students experiment with creating linear equations using different slopes and y-intercepts. They discover how the slope and y-intercept change the position of a linear equation on a graph. Horizontal and vertical lines are also displayed at the beginning of the activity and the lines become more complex at each new level. Students have to identify different linear equations on a graph and write equations given the line on a graph. This is all made fun by "saving the zogs" that lie on top of the line the students are creating!
1. Learning Activity Types
LA-Practice - practicing for fluency:
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students practice creating linear equations by looking at a line on a graph.
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students practice graphing linear equations using the slope and y-intercept
LA-Explore - exploring/investigating mathematical ideas
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Students explore many different types of lines
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Students explore transformations by viewing different slopes and y-intercepts
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Students explore how to create horizontal and vertical lines
2. What mathematics is being learned?
NCTM Standards
NCTM-Alg-patterns - understand patterns, relations, and functions;
NCTM-Alg-symbols - represent and analyze mathematical situations and structures using algebraic symbols;
VA SOL Strands
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8.16 - The student will graph a linear equation in two variables.
Proficiency Strands
PS-conceptual understanding
PS-procedural fluency
3. How is the mathematics represented?
Linear equations are represented as equations and lines on a graph in this activity. Students can learn about how the slope and y-intercept change the way a linear equation looks on a coordinate plane. The technology makes it easy for students to practice their knowledge about linear equations and relate it to graphs. Students are able to first identify which of the given equations go with the line on the graph. Then students are able to practice creating linear equations by looking at the line on the graph.
4. What role does technology play?
Computing & Automating - The technology allows for linear equations to be displayed on a coordinate plane. Students are able to relate linear equations to their graphs on a coordinate plane.
Capturing & Creating - The technology in this activity helps students create linear equations on a coordinate plane that correspond to the given equations. It also allows for students to create equations that represent given lines on a coordinate plane.For this activity technology plays a large role in helping students understand the relationship between the slope and y-intercept in linear equations and on the coordinate plane.
5. How does this resource supplement/facilitate PBL?
This resource can be used to supplement PBL. It is an additional activity students can play to practice what they have learned.