Expressions and Equations Essential Question

Essential Questions for students (objectives):

How can mathematics help us model real-world problems so that we can make informed decisions?

Supplies:

You-tube video on essential question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXBL79tlBg4

Post-its

Factor Question poster

Essential Question poster

Follow up video if needed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iew9nppByKs

 

CCSS:  6. EE.1-4, 7.EE.1, 7.EE.2, 7.EE.4

 

 

Instructional Format:

Video, teacher –lead instruction, cooperative groups

Vocabulary for a Word Wall:

 

 

Description:

1)      Show essential question expressions video to students. (This is a you-tube video that takes approximately 3 minutes)

2)      Pause the video at the slide titled, “Discussion: What factors…”   Ask students to either work in groups or partners to brainstorm ideas on what possible factors could be involved in creating such a time discrepancy.  Have them write their ideas on post-its and attach them to the “factors poster.”  Discuss as a class.

3)      Restart video and play to the finish.  Did your students come up with similar ideas?  Did they have additional reasonable ideas?

4)      Post the Essential Questions Poster – How can mathematics help us model real-world problems so that we can make informed decisions?

5)      Ask students to start generating ideas on how they could model this problem and come up with some reasonable ways to test their models.  Students can write their ideas as exit tickets that get attached to the Essential Questions poster.

6)      Many students have difficulty understanding what math modeling means.  As they are discussing a model –note if many students try to build or draw a physical map/model of a small city.  If so, there is a follow up video explaining modeling: 

7)      Following this introduction lesson are multiple lessons on recognizing variables and constants, translating expressions, evaluating expressions, and simplifying expressions on my you-tube channel – making mathematicians (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZA3T7BgGokfW82sKqT7Kmw.)    Visit this over-arching essential question regularly to see if students can tie new information to the question.  For instance, what are the variables and constants in our “15 minutes to arrive at volunteering” window?

Prior Knowledge/ Possible Warm-up Activities:

Order of Operations

Integer Operations

 

 

Time needed: 20 minutes

 

 

Related Texts:

 

Assessment (Acceptable Evidence):

N/A

 

Attached worksheets or documents:

 

Factors Poster                 Essential Question Poster

 

Cautionary notes/ misconceptions/additional connections:

This introductory lesson is a great time to mention the CCSS Mathematical Practice #4 – Mathematical Modeling.   If you want to see lessons or information on the 8 Mathematical Practices click here.

 

 

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