Math Libs Lesson 1 Graphing Lines TD Lesson Overview Mad Libs is a game where you fill in blanks with your own words to complete stories. They are often funny and entertaining. In this lesson, students take that fun activity and fill in the blanks with math, sketch the scene, and then animate the scene. Along the way they will be graphing lines, coordinates, finding slope and equations of lines, and planning linear paths from a beginning point to an end point. Sample scene made from the given Mad Lib story
Learning Objectives: SWBAT integrate key algebraic concepts as they create a linear path. What you need to get started A set of iPads with the Choreo Graph app Time Needed Depending on how much time you want to spend on this project, anywhere from 1 class period (if students are already familiar with Choreo Graph) to 3 class periods. Collaboration and Group Work These lessons are designed for students to work individually, in pairs, or in groups. Each student should do all the work on their own sheets, and the iPad should be shared across group members as equally as possible. We suggest that groups be no larger than four students. Four or more students in a group will require extra attention to make sure that every group member is contributing equally.
Lesson Plan Introduction 1) Discuss and/or review the idea of Mad Libs, perhaps read a particularly funny, brief example. 2) Preview the math they will be seeing in the questions below. Graphing lines, finding equations of lines, parallel and perpendicular, and scaling from a grid unit to a real world measurement. To do 1) Students will follow the instructions on their sheets to complete the Math Libs story, animate their characters in Choreo Graph, and then answer the questions about the math in their stories. 2) The lesson guides students through creating the animations. 3) Circulate the room and check for understanding, help students as needed. 4) Optional: Have students write their own Math Lib stories, exchange with each other, and complete them as well. When creating their own, they will need to choose coordinates that are within the framework of the Choreo Graph grid, and keep in mind that there are 13 keyframes. Sharing 1) With each lesson, spend some time allowing the students to share their work with the class. In this lesson, students can share difficulties they might be having as well as successes in finding equations of lines and whether any segments were parallel or perpendicular.
2) You might also invite students to continue thinking about how the math in their stories could extend to larger creative projects and career opportunities in interactive design, animation, filmmaking, editing and media. Wrapup If necessary, have students label their iPads so they will be able to return to them for the next lessons.
The following is also included on the student sheets: Choreo Graph Mad Libs The Story (Blank) is at the bottom of Mt. (Blank) at (35, 15) and must get to the top to recover the stolen (Blank) at (35,15). There are a few obstacles along the way! At (10, 10) there's a (Blank) and at (0,0) there's a (Blank). Also at (10,10) there's a (Blank). Fill in the blanks, draw them, then create a path in CG to successfully get (Blank) to the top.
Questions 1) What is the slope of your mountain? (If there are a few different slopes to the mountain, find them!) 2) What are the coordinates of your main character’s path, and how many different line segments are there? 3) What are the slopes of your different line segments? 4) What are the equations of four important line segments? (Important refers to moments in the story where your character moved to evade an obstacle, for example.) 5) Are any of your segments parallel? How do you know? 6) Are any of your segments perpendicular? How do you know? 7) If each unit on the grid is 100 ft., how far did your main character travel to get to the top of the mountain? 8) Use the math from your scene to describe how your main character evaded the obstacles and achieved successful recovery.
Sample Solution: Snowman Jones, Mt. SnowCano, Ice Sapphire, Avalanche Danger, Ice Chasm, Yeti
Creative description of what happened: Snowman Jones pole vaulted over the avalanche danger and the ice chasm with his whip, and also whipped the yeti as he flew overhead, allowing for safe passage to the ice sapphire.
Screen from the sample solution
Sample solution coordinates to recovery of the ice sapphire
Sample Sketches