8th Grade Math Motion Lab
Students and Mrs. Holsey and Mrs. McMichael's math classes are studying rates of change using a Calculator-Based Ranger 2 (The CBR 2 collects distance, velocity, and acceleration data while connected directly to a TI graphing calculator) and graphing calculators to model different rates of change. Students were given six graphs and asked to come up with a movement strategy that would allow the CBR2 to detect their motion and the calculator to display the appropriate graph. Students then checked their strategies by actually testing their movements.
Such hands-on activities develop students conceptual understanding of key 8th grade math (algebra) concepts. Students were able to discuss positive, negative, zero, and undefined slopes in the context of motion problems (distance vs. time) after participating in the CBR2 lab. They REALLY know why vertical lines have undefined slopes now! Do you?