All About Slope

First, students should pair up with a partner (it may help if one student prefers using written language to justify their process, while the other prefers to use visuals, but not necessary!)

Before going further, each member of your group needs to be given a job. Each student will perform their job during each step of the Webquest and will keep the same job through the entire lesson.

    Job 1- The Planner: if you choose this job, it is your responsibility to use your words to answer all questions and complete all tasks through this activity. At the end of the lesson, you will be in charge of designing the set of staircases using all the information obtained about slope throughout this lesson.

    Job 2- The Construction Worker: if you chose this job, it is your responsibility to use illustrations to answer all questions and complete all activity tasks. You will use the following website to draw your images and once finished upload each image to EduCreations (website link to follow). Note: if you don't already have an EduCreations account, one must be created (for free) before uploading any image.

        Drawing website:  http://drawisland.com

        EduCreations:  http://www.educreations.com

Task 1: Define slope in your own words.

   Job 1- Choose as many websites as needed to come up with a clear and concise definition of slope, making sure to use your own words and in a manner that can easily be understood by your classmates. Write your answer on a seperate sheet of paper or on your computer using Microsoft Word.

   Job 2- Use the following websites to gain an understanding of what slope means, create an illustration using the Drawing Website (http://drawisland.com). Once your illustration is complete, upload it to EduCreations (http://educreations.com)

WEBSITES:

http://www.mathwarehouse.com/algebra/linear_equation/interactive-slope…

http://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/slope.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slope

http://www.basic-mathematics.com/what-is-slope.html

**Before moving on to the next Task, share your results with your partner and critique your partners responses, making sure you both have a good understanding of slope.

Task 2: Determine how slope relates to linear lines and graphing

   Job 1- Again, use the following websites to explore the task at hand. Write down any applicable information about slope and its relationship with graphing linear lines.

   Job 2- Using your trusty sketchpad, create an illustration that best demonstrates how slopes relates to linear lines and graphing. Upload your image to EduCreations once it is finished.

WEBSITES:

http://coolmath.com/algebra/08-lines/05-finding-slope-line-from-graph-0…

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/sipa/math/slope_linear.html

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/slope.htm

**Before moving on, again discuss your answers with your partner. This time, use EduCreations and upload the written justificaion (Job 1) to go along with the illustration (Job 2).

Task 3: Discover how to determine slope given a graph of a line

   Job 1- Use the following websites to determine slope given a graph of a line. Using words, expalin how you would approach determining the slope, given a graph of a line. Write your answer on a seperate sheet of paper.

   Job 2- To the best of your ability and with your greatest creativity, create an illustration that demonstrates how you can determine slope given the graph of a line. A few words can be imbedded into the illustration if needed to solidify your justification. Upload your image and any corresponding words to EduCreations.

WEBSITES:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-iK1SCCINc

http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/SlopeSlider

http://math.about.com/od/algebra1help/a/Slope_Line_Graph.htm

http://www.mathwarehouse.com/algebra/linear_equation/how-to-find-slope-…

http://www.virtualnerd.com/algebra-1/linear-equation-analysis/slope-rat…

http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/DevelopmentalMath/COURSE_TEXT2…

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/slopgrph.htm

**Before moving on, share your task with your partner. This time, work togethe to determine the slopes of the red, green, and blue lines on the illustration found on the following website:

http://www.montereyinstitute.org/courses/DevelopmentalMath/COURSE_TEXT2…

Write you answers on a seperate sheet of paper and use words to justify your process.

Task 4: Determine what the slope-intercept form is, including all its parts, specifically focusing on why slope is pivotal to this equation

   Job 1- Define the slope-intercept form and explain what elements of this equation format are important or necessary to create the graph of the line. Why is slope so important to this format? What happens when a line doesn't have a slope? Write your answers down on a seperate sheet of paper, making sure to be clearn and concise with your justification.

   Job 2- Using several different illustrations, show how you can use an equation in slope-intercept form to easily graph a linear line. Each illustration should show a different step in the graphing process. Once finished, upload the all images to EduCreations.

WEBSITES:

http://www.webmath.com/gline.html

http://www.math.com/school/subject2/lessons/S2U4L2GL.html

http://www.ixl.com/math/algebra-1/slope-intercept-form-graph-an-equation

http://www.math-play.com/slope-intercept-game.html

http://www.mathwarehouse.com/algebra/linear_equation/slope-intercept-fo…

**Before moving on, students should not only discuss this specific task, but also re-visit each previous task, adding or revising any information that is missing or needs improvement.

Task 5: Design a staircase that meets the CA State Codes as well as the given guidelines

BACKGROUND INFO: you and your partner will be building a staircase for your best friend, Mary, who isn't as handy as you and you partner are. Your friend needs the staircase to be 15 feet off the ground (from the top step to the ground). The staircase can extend as far away from the house as needed, but Mary is very ademate that the stairs MUST BE TO CODE!! She doesn't have a preference on stair height or depth (rise and run), but again wants a quality staircase that meets code. It will be up to you and your partner to determine what the CA Code of Regulations states as being "to code." Next, using this information you will determine what the best stair height and depth should be for this situation and then design and ultimately build the staircase (building will simply involve creating a detailed illustration). 

Job 1- Using the CA Code of Regulations website, determine what the "rise and run" of a stair must be in order to meet code (and thus not be destroyed immediately after being built or resulting in catastrophic failure!!). State what the regulations say for rise and run dimensions and use this information to determine what the rise and run of your unique staircase will be. Lastly, create detailed written plans for this staircase and discuss them with your partner (partner can help with planning, but will leave the written justification up to Job 1).

Job 2- Using the detailed plan you and your partner created (and your partner wrote down) draw a detailed illustration of your set of stairs. Include where it connects to the house, how high off the ground the top step will be, the rise and run of each step (should be consistent!!), as well as the slope of the staircase. Words and numbers and necessary elements of this drawing. Once the illustration is complete, upload it to EduCreations and record a auditory explanation and justification of your staircase. BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE!!!

WEBSITES:

**use any previous website that can be helpful**

https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/3231.html

Task 6: Relate slope and its elements to your unique staircase and your life

   Job 1 & 2- Working together you and your partner will relate slope in general to your staircase. Write down your relations and lastly, come up with 5 different examples of slope as seen in your daily lives and explain how slope is present in each case. Either type your responses into EduCreations itself or write them down and upload an image of your response to Task 6.

WEBSITES:

http://www.educreations.com

***AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS WEBQUEST, STAPLE ALL SUPPORTING MATERIAL TOGETHER, PUT YOUR NAMES ON THE FRONT PAGE, AND SUBMIT YOUR WORK.