S+Dube,+Brittany

** E-mail: ** brittany.dube@maine.edu
 * Teacher:** Brittany Dube
 * Office:** Stone Hall
 * Office Phone:** (207)468-1213
 * Office Hours:** MWF 2:00-3:30

=Summary of Unit= Which cell phone plan is really best for your family? How many shirts and pairs of jeans can you get with the amount of money that you have in your pocket? To solve these questions one will need to use linear equations. Linear equations are present in our daily life and we do not even realize it. Throughout this unit, students will learn to work with linear equations so that they are prepared to solve these daily questions. Students will also learn the differences between linear equations and inequalities and how they are important in life. After learning these basics, the students’ knowledge will be broadened by learning about the concept of factoring using the quadratic formula. Students will learn to apply their newly found knowledge in a creative way to “Design an Island.” Linear equations are present in everyday life, so students will be given the tools to successfully solve these kinds of situations.

=Establish Goals= Equations and Inequalities Grades 9 - Diploma 2 Students //solve// families of equations and inequalities** a. //Solve// systems of linear equations and inequalities in two unknowns and interpret their graphs.
 * Maine Learning Results: Mathematics - D. Algebra

= = =Students will understand that= • Linear equations can be used to solve problems. • Inequalities can be useful in problem solving. • Factoring is useful when working with linear equations.

= = =Essential Questions= • How can linear equations be written and interpreted? • How can inequalities be translated? • Why do we use the quadratic formula to help in factoring?

= = =Students will know= • Formulas - y-intercept form, quadratic formula, point slope • Vocabulary - x-intercept, y-intercept, x-axis, y-axis, xy-plane, slope, linear equation, inequality • Critical details - graphing, solving inequalities, solving linear equations, finding slope, plugging in x and y values, quadratic formula, factoring

= = =Students will be able to= • Demonstrate the quadratic formula in factoring. • Translate inequalities in a graphic form. • a. Solve systems of linear equations and inequalities in two unknowns and interpret their graphs. • Compare inequalities to linear equations (including graphs). • Consider using the quadratic formula when factoring problems. • Recognize linear equations.

**Performance Task Overview** Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has just discovered a new island in the Atlantic Ocean during a recent cruise. Now they are sponsoring a contest, “Design an Island,” to find the best designers for the businesses that they want on the island. Royal Caribbean is looking for a creative starting plan of one hotel, one restaurant, and a gift shop. A budget is established for these three structures to be built and stocked for tourists. Using the given prices, contestants need to set up and solve linear equations to show how the budget is broken down. All applications should be submitted in the form of a commercial to try to persuade Royal Caribbean to choose you for the job. Not only do the winners get to follow through with their design, but also they will get this newly founded property named after them. Have you always wanted an island named after you? Well, here is your shot to make it happen, so start designing!

=Expectations= The world of math is like an amusement park with thrill rides, leisure rides, and those rides that repeatedly send you around in circles. Who would want to miss a day of this exciting journey? Do not be late or else you will have to wait in line for these exciting attractions. Tourists (students) will need to provide a hall pass or valid excuse for being late for a day in this amusement park. In the event of a tourist being absent from the day at the amusement park, it is important for he or she to e-mail me as soon as possible to get the assignments and set up a time to have an overview of the missed material.

Assignments are your ticket to board the rides. These “tickets” must be handed in on time unless prior arrangements were made. Leisure ride tickets (homework assignments) are due at the beginning of the following class unless otherwise specified. All guidelines and deadlines regarding thrill ride tickets (projects) will be discussed at the time of assignment. If you miss the leisure ride boarding time there will be an opportunity to get a second chance upon making arrangements with the ride operator (teacher). There is only one boarding time for each thrill ride, so be sure to be on time. If you still miss the ride, then arrangements can be made with the ride operator to figure out a solution. All “tickets” should be passed in grammatically free of error when applicable.

Cutting the line (cheating and/or plagiarism) will NOT be tolerated in this amusement park. In the even of this kind of behavior, a meeting will be set up with the “ride operator” to discuss the fate of the “ticket.” The rules set by the owner of the amusement park will be enforced in this situation.

Respect is key in this park. Respect yourself and respect others around you. Amusement parks are a fun place; so coming with the right attitude will make the day that much better!

=Benchmarks= There will be multiple projects and assignments administered during this unit. The goal is to demonstrate learning of the material to earn the most amount of points possible. There is a possible total of __//**600 points**//__. Here is how the points will be distributed:

Each student is expected to take an active role in his or her education. The classroom environment will benefit from each student having an input during class. Students will work in groups daily and are expected to take an active role in this group. Group learning is meant to be a time for students to learn from their peers by working together to solve a problem. Some of the cooperative learning activities that will be taking place in class are think-pair-share, numbered heads together, three-step interview, and various other activities. Students will earn the complete 50 points by putting their best foot forward and actively participating in the activities.
 * //__Class Participation (50 points):__//**

__**//Pre-assessment (30 points)://**__ At the beginning of the unit, a pre-assessment will be administered. This pre-assessment allows for an indicator as to where each student stands with the material that is about to be covered. This assessment will not be graded, but is solely to see where each student is starting off knowledge-wise in the unit. Each student will receive the allotted points by participating in the assessment and attempting every problem.

__//**Blog (30 points):**//__ Each student will set up a blog account for this course. Blogs will be used as a place for reflection and conversation. On different occasions, students will be asked to blog about their feelings of their progression of leaning. This blog will be a history of each student’s progress throughout the course. Blogs will be graded on a participation basis. A student will receive the full 30 points when every entry is posted on time and the reflection shows thought and effort.

__//**“Question of the Day” (40 points):**//__ At the beginning of each class, students will be administered a “Question of the Day” slip. There will be one or two questions about the material that was taught the class before. The “Question of the Day” is used as a benchmark for the teacher and student to see where they stand on comprehension and application of the material. The “Question of the Day” is a non-graded task but will be evaluated on a participation basis. A student will receive the full amount of points when the task is completed and it is evident that effort went into solving the problems.

__**//WebQuest (50 points)://**__ Think about the last time that you picked up your cell phone. Did you realize that you are contributing to your own personal linear equation? This WebQuest activity will allow you to become more familiar with linear equations and realize the role they have in your everyday life. Throughout this task, you will create a cell phone plan for your family using linear equations and graphs. After this project, you will start to see all of the linear equations that are hiding in your life.

__//**ComicLife (50 points):**//__ Who doesn’t love a great comic book? Even mathematicians love reading a good comic book as long as it covers the right topic. So each student is going to create their own comic book that explains a student’s journey of learning how to solve linear equations. Linear equations are only a chapter in the great book of math, so this explanation only needs to be as long as it takes to help this student learn how to solve linear equations. The goal for this comic is to motivate everyday comic book readers to want to learn how to solve linear equations.

__//**e-Book (50 points):**//__ Each student is going to be responsible for creating a portfolio demonstrating the similarities and differences between linear equations and inequalities. This portfolio should include graphs, step-by-step worked out equations, and explanations as to how these systems compare to each other. Think of this portfolio as a storybook for these two systems. What kind of relationship do they share? What in the world has that kind of relationship? Put on your thinking cap because linear equations and inequalities are always fun and exciting to compare.

__//**Digital Scrapbook (50 points):**//__ Everybody has a story, right? So why should it be any different for the quadratic equation? Pairs of students will work together to create a story as to how the quadratic formula came to be what it is today. Using online digital scrapbook programs, students will use graphs, pictures, equations, and creativity to explain to anyone the concept of the quadratic equation and how it is used. Consider this scrapbook as the quadratic formula’s “baby book.”

__//**Garage Band (50 points):**//__ With technology becoming more and more popular and time becoming more and more scarce, why not bring the lesson along with you where you go? Podcasts are becoming a very popular tool in the classroom. Students will work in pairs to create their very own podcast to explain what the quadratic equation is and how it is used to factor. The trick to this project is to relay information that is very visual in a way that it can be understood by just hearing it. By doing this, each student can learn all they ever wanted to know about the quadratic equation while doing something like working out at the gym!

__//**Unit Project – iMovie (200 points):**//__ Linear equations really are present in everyday life. If you don’t believe me, you will after this project is done. Linear equations are used to do great things in the world everyday. Now you get to put your newly found knowledge into use by participating in one of the most exciting contests around. Want to know more? Read this:

Breaking news! Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has just discovered a new island in the Atlantic Ocean during a recent cruise. Now they are sponsoring a contest, “Design an Island,” to find the best designers for the businesses that they want on the island. Royal Caribbean is looking for a creative starting plan of one hotel, one restaurant, and a gift shop. A budget is established for these three structures to be built and stocked for tourists. Using the given prices, contestants need to set up and solve linear equations to show how the budget is broken down. All applications should be submitted in the form of a commercial to try to persuade Royal Caribbean to choose you for the job. Not only do the winners get to follow through with their design, but also they will get this newly founded property named after them. Have you always wanted an island named after you? Well, here is your shot to make it happen, so start designing!

=Grading Scale= **A** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76), Grading scale adapted from the UMF standards.
 * C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59).