LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Investigating fire environments

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L663

A lesson plan for Grades 6–8 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
6–8
Subjects
mathematics (algebra, probability, statistics)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Legal

Creative Commons License

This catalog record is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This license applies to the content of this page only and does not apply to the referenced website.

In this lesson that focuses on wildfires, students consider the meaning of the term variable, both in a mathematical and an everyday sense, by considering a text based “equation.” Illuminations provides a handout and activity sheet to complete this lesson. After becoming familiar with the equation form and learning to read an equation for information, students create scatterplots based on data. Then, students evaluate the relationship between categories and determine the line of best fit on the graph to determine if there is a strong correlation between two variables.

Students will:

  • Recognize the impact that variables have on results.
  • Draw conclusions based on numerical information organized in a table.
  • Make predictions using a graph of data and a line of best fit.

NCTM Standards and Expectation covered in this lesson include:

  • Identifying functions as linear or nonlinear and contrast their properties from tables, graphs, or equations.
  • Developing an initial conceptual understanding of different uses of variables.
  • Modeling and solving contextualized problems using various representations, such as graphs, tables, and equations.
  • Using graphs to analyze the nature of changes in quantities in linear relationships.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 6

  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will demonstrate an understanding of simple algebraic expressions.
    • Objective 5.02: Use and evaluate algebraic expressions.
    • Objective 5.03: Solve simple (one- and two-step) equations or inequalities.
    • Objective 5.04: Use graphs, tables, and symbols to model and solve problems involving rates of change and ratios.

Grade 7

  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will demonstrate an understanding of linear relations and fundamental algebraic concepts.
    • Objective 5.01: Identify, analyze, and create linear relations, sequences, and functions using symbols, graphs, tables, diagrams, and written descriptions.
    • Objective 5.02: Translate among different representations of algebraic expressions, equations and inequalities.
    • Objective 5.03: Use and evaluate algebraic expressions, linear equations or inequalities to solve problems.
    • Objective 5.04: Develop fluency in the use of formulas to solve problems.

Grade 8

  • Goal 5: Algebra - The learner will understand and use linear relations and functions.
    • Objective 5.01: Develop an understanding of function.
      • Translate among verbal, tabular, graphic, and algebraic representations of functions.
      • Identify relations and functions as linear or nonlinear.
      • Find, identify, and interpret the slope (rate of change) and intercepts of a linear relation.
      • Interpret and compare properties of linear functions from tables, graphs, or equations.
    • Objective 5.02: Write an equation of a linear relationship given: two points, the slope and one point on the line, or the slope and y-intercept.
    • Objective 5.03: Solve problems using linear equations and inequalities; justify symbolically and graphically.