S+Bowden,+Scott


 * Class: ** Algebra I
 * Unit: ** Linear Equations and Systems
 * Teacher: ** Mr. Bowden
 * Office: ** Education Center Rm. 251
 * Office Phone:**
 * Office Hours:** MTWRF 2:00 - 3:00 PM. TWR 6:00 - 7:00 AM
 * E-mail:**

** Summary of Unit ** The algebra student's introduction to the wonderful marriage of algebra and geometry. Lines and equations are so similar. Two very different ideas are oddly the same and either can be worked with in the same way. Of interest will be determining how to find points on a coordinate plane and exploring how it works. All about lines and slopes. How does algebra become geometry and how are graphs made of lines? Two lines that intersect one another and how that can be determined both algebraically and geometrically. Even though these ideas seem so far apart, they are very close in nature and application. Students will have the unique opportunity to work with technologies such as iMovie, ComicLife, and Google Earth in exploring these ideas. Students will be assessed formatively during each lesson to reinforce the information and have the students use it in different ways in addition to identify concept or process gaps that can be addressed at a later point.

// Maine Learning Results - Mathematics D. Algebra Equations and Inequalities Grades 9-Diploma 2. Students solve families of equations and inequalities //
 * Establish Goals **

• the coordinate plane relates to ordered values in space. • algebraic equations with highest degree of one can be represented as lines. • there are multiple ways to solve a problem.
 * Students will understand that **

 • How do different facets of the coordinate plane work? • How are equations of one degree represented as lines? • Why do we use multiple ways to solve a system of equations?
 * Essential Questions **

 • Terminology: slope, system of equations, coordinate plane, ordered pair, independent variable, dependent variable, x and y axes, intercept, midpoint, parallel line, perpendicular line. • Key Facts: graphing methods, system solution methods, finding the slope of a line, finding distance between two points, finding the midpoint of two points. • Formulas: slope formula, midpoint formula, distance formula, slope-intercept form of a line, standard form of a line, point-slope form of a line. ** Students will be able to ** • predict the distance between two points • illustrate the location of a point based on its ordered pair • create the graph of a line • compare solution methods of systems of equations • relate a system of equations to a real world application • realize the solution to a system of linear equations is an ordered pair.
 * Students will know **


 * Performance Task Overview **

It’s a new day and age in news reporting! Channel 5 KOOL is looking for news reporters who understand mathematics and can use it in everyday discussion. Channel 5 KOOL and its board of executives are sending out a prize for the best report using mathematics. If you can show that your footage is better than the thousands of other applicants, you may just land yourself a new reporting job and will have the distinctive honor of having your footage shown live on a KOOL broadcast. The board is really interested in your ability to think about contemporary issues. So, they have issued the following: The country is really tense about gas prices and that’s what you have been assigned to discuss. You and your co-anchor will be responsible for researching the gas prices from two different years in two states of your choosing (except for Maine and the national average). It’s your job to do all the mathematics to predict where the price of gas will be in 5 years, 10 years, and the year 2050. In addition to determining when the two states had the same gas price. What year was it, and how much was gas? Your broadcast footage will be shown to the board of KOOL. Good luck! 

for others. All individuals, students and teacher alike, are entitled to a comfortable and decent learning environment. Students and teacher are to respect the space and property of one another and allow everyone to learn and function in a safe and comfortable manner. All are required to respect the space and property of others. To violate personal boundaries and show little regard for the property of others is forbidden. Students and teacher have the right to a comfortable environment, and for someone to violate space or property boundaries would inhibit that zone of comfort. Refer to the school policies on harassment as well for this.
 * Expectations **


 * Readiness** for class is crucial for learning. This includes having any assignments completed before coming to class. Students who are ill-prepared or not ready for class will have a difficult time keeping up with the material. If you are absent or miss class for ANY reason, contact the teacher or a classmate to be filled in with the material covered. The notes from classes and the materials covered will be viewable on the teacher's class wikispace, but it is not enough. The student must make any effort to catch up on missed materials. The teacher will be willing and receptive to help if needed or asked.


 * Practice makes Perfect.** Assignments such as homework, quizzes, and projects are vital to understanding the material as it allows the students to hone their skills and the teacher can identify what gaps in process and content exist. It is the responsibility of the student to have ALL assigned work completed in a timely manner so the teacher can give appropriate feedback and identify material that needs reinforcement. Students who need extra assistance can contact the teacher for additional help and support if needed during assignments and projects during the listed office hour times.


 * Plagiarism is bad!!!** For those unaware of what plagiarism is, refer to the student handbook for definitions. In this class, it is called cheating. Students who cheat by looking at others' test papers or copying homework do not get the benefit of the material presented. It is a serious offense and can have dire consequences if severe enough. Students who plagiarize by using ideas, materials, or quotations that are not their own or are caught in the act of cheating will be dealt with in accordance with school policy.


 * Keep it FUN!! ** School doesn't have to be boring! Many of the activities that take place in this class are different than traditional "sit behind a desk and listen to some old guy talk for 80 minutes." They were hand-crafted with love by the instructor in the hopes that they will be entertaining and enjoyable. Those who come in expecting boredom will often find it, so keep an open mind and be willing to try new things as they may just be fun and interesting.


 * Help me, Please!!!** If you are in trouble, seek help. Not just in this class, but life in general. If you are stuck on material or have difficulty understanding, seek help. There is a math clinic available to those needing or wanting extra help during the school day, the teacher is available before and after school and has free periods during the day. If none of these times are available, then perhaps the teacher can work out a tutor who has been recognized for outstanding ability and willingness to help. Don't sit back and suffer. There is a support system and the hope is that everyone can succeed.


 * Do the Homework!! ** Homework and reflection are important parts of learning. They allow the students to think and consider what they have learned, what they aren't sure of, and how the teacher can teach the material better or differently. Even though they are worth a minimal amount of points by themselves, not completing them has a negative impact on attitude and participation. As stated before, practice makes perfect, but not practicing holds back potential.

** Benchmarks ** Homework (20 points). Homework will be assigned nightly and will take the form of practice problems from the book or worksheets designed by the teacher. These will review and reinforce student's understanding and knowledge of the material covered that class. These will be ungraded and merely checked for completion. Additionally, any assignments done in class that are not graded count as homework and will be checked for completion.

Blog/Journal Entries (10 points). Students will be expected to keep nightly journal or blog entries that discuss what they felt they learned from that day in addition to what they think the teacher could improve upon. The students will also discuss what they might not have understood so the teacher can revisit material and explain it again. These are not graded for content, but checked for completion.

Quizzes (20 points). At the end of each lesson, the teacher will give a low-stakes quiz. Each quiz will be worth 5 points. With 6 quizzes total, the four with the highest score will be kept and counted toward this benchmark.

Google Earth Worksheet (50 points). After the first lesson, the teacher will give a worksheet to examine proficiency using Google Earth to determine points on the globe by Latitude and Longitude values. This worksheet will relate the material covered in the lesson to a real-life situation that students can relate to. It is comprised of two sections. One section will be scored on accuracy, the other will be checked for completion.

Day Trip WebQuest (50 points). Each portion of the day trip WebQuest completed in Lesson 2 has a specific point value. This WebQuest is based around the students using Google Earth to create a trip that they could take in one day considering distance, and any costs they may endure and budgeting well for the trip. They will plan where and when they need to stop for certain things.

Roof Design (100 points). In lesson 3, students will use knowledge of slopes and equations of lines to build a model roof based on dimensions and ordered pairs determined by the teacher. The students will fill out a worksheet and use the information from that to create the model to the specifications and equations indicated on the worksheet. The model will not be graded on artistic design, but will be graded on appropriate scale and mathematical accuracy.

Wikispace (100 points). The fifth lesson has students researching a profession that uses linear systems and linear trends on an everyday basis. This will appear online as a wikispace rather than as a research paper or essay. This wikispace will both show what career they have researched in addition to a real-life example displaying how they use it. Students will create this wikispace in teams or pairs with contribution from each team member. Scores will be based both on final product as well as individual portion, the former worth 25 points for the product and 75 for individual contribution.

ComicLife (100 points). Students will use the software ComicLife to create a comic book about solution methods of linear systems. They will be familiar with the program and work in groups to make a visually appealing and cohesive product that draws relevance to the topic at hand and has accurate mathematical content. Students will be scored both on individual contribution as well as the final product. The final product is worth 50 points and the individual portion is worth 50 points.

Final Exam (160 points). The students will take a culminating exam that contains problems and material covered in all the lessons.

Planning for Final Project (30 points). Each team must turn in their storyboard/planning for the iMovie (worth 10 points), all the mathematics they have done for it (worth 10 points), all words that appear on-screen during the movie for ease of the teacher (worth 10 points). These will be returned to the student with teacher feedback, but will be scored only on completion.

Final Project: iMovie and Oral Presentation. The students will complete a WebQuest relating to the performance task listed above. This will ultimately take the form of an iMovie production and an oral presentation. 200 points will be considered for the iMovie and 100 points will be considered for the oral presentation. 100 points for the iMovie and 50 points for the oral presentation will be earned as a group. The remaining 100 points for the iMovie and 50 points for the presentation will be based on individual effort.

Final Project Reflection (20 points). Upon completing the final project, each student will fill out a reflection about their final project. This will outline what each student felt their individual contribution and effort was in the final project in addition to giving the teacher advice on how to revise the project for later classes. The points will be earned for completion of the assignment.

Attitude and Participation (50 points). Points will be awarded for student contribution in class. Consideration will be made for students who contribute to the class discussions, instruction, and work done in small groups. Homework completion, in-class project, and blog/journal entry completion will also factor into this score.

The total Grade will be configured out of 1000 points. The letter grades listed below will be the student's percentage of points out of 1000

** Grading Scale ** Speaking of not plagiarizing… References: Clip-Art courtesy of Microsoft Word 2007. Picture courtesy of Mr. Bowden.
 * A ** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76), **C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59).