WebQuest

Graphing with the Coordinate Plane

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Process

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The Process below will help you reach the goal of understanding coordinate planes.  Do the steps in order without skipping any important websites.

1. Start a new journal entry and lable it coordinate plane.  This is where you will store the information you gather, especially things you have learned.  This is also the document that you will turn in to the instructor when you have completed the unit.  You will also need to record a variety of graphs, You will submit your journal at the start of class, unless otherwise directed by the teacher.
 
2.  Start with a Pre-Quiz to see how much you already know.  Follow the link below and answer the ten questions the best you can.  Copy the questions and graph BOTH the questions/answers and the graph into your journal.  Label this the "Pre-Quiz".   (Use the "back/previous" button to return to this page.) When you are finished with the quiz, answer these questions with your group: 
  • What grade would you give yourself?  
  • Are there any vocabulary words or concepts that you don't understand?  
  • The "score" button doesn't work - so discuss the correct answers with your group.          

 PRE-QUIZ  

3. Review the basics of the Coordinate Plane that you learned last year.  Below are two links that will help you look up vocabulary, discuss specifics of points, remind you of the axes, and review the four quadrants.  While you are reviewing you must write down a minimum of ten words with their definitions, paying special attention to any information you are not familiar with or are having trouble remembering.  Label this page, "Cartesian Plane Basics".  

  Go to this website and read about the Cartesian Plane.  Make sure you visit all four pages. 

Cartesian Plane  

Follow the link below.  Pass through the four steps and do the workout at the end. Do not go past step four to the next section slope.

 Four step workout

4. Practice a few problems on plotting.

  •   Go to this website and read about the Cartesian Plane.  Tell your teacher if you made it to the third level.
            Cartesian Plane
  •   Then try this website to practice plotting points.  It is similar to the one above but hopefully helpful in different ways.  Tell your teacher which game you like better and would want to play again.
            Practice Plotting

 
5. Use graph paper supplied by your teacher to explore different types of data.  Now that you understand points and have practiced plotting we need to get to the good part - lines.  Determine what each variable in the graph will represent and how it affects the line.  We will only be looking at straight lines to connect points on the coordinate plane.  

Start a new page in your journal and label it "Graph Exercise". 

  • Plot a minimum of twelve different points on your graph and don't forget to label all of them by their x, y, coordinate.   
  • On the "Graph Exercise" page, answer the following questions.  (Hint: Start with small easy numbers.)
  1. What do negatives do to the line?  
  2. What do fractions do?
  3. What do zeros do for both the "x" and the "y"?
  4. What does the "x" stand for in the formula?  
  5. How does changing "x" affect the graph?
  6. What does the "y" stand for in the formula?
  7. How does changing "y" affect the graph?


6. Explore the resources.  The following website and videos discuss coordinate planes, points, x, y, axis, and lines.  Be sure to take notes in your math journal, even if it seems easy. 
  • The first part in this site will help look at vertical lines.  The second parts looks at horizontal lines.  The third part talks about the "slope".  The fourth part shows the "y-intercept".  There is even an "Interactive" tool that may help you see how different lines look when they are written in a formula.
          Interactive tool
  • Below are two videos that discuss how to graph on a coordinate plane.  Be sure to watch them both - or feel free to watch other videos on the same subject if you need more help.  Make sure to talk to your teacher if there are any questions on the Pre-Quiz that you still don't understand.
            Graphing Video 1
            Graphing Video 2



7. Develop some rules of your own that will help you understand the Cartesian Coordinate Plane.  In your journal, create a page and label it, "Coordinate Plane Rules".  Use the websites and information you have gathered to write down a minimum of ten things you know to be true about coordinate planes.  
  • The following website might help to give you some ideas.
           Coordinate Plane Information



8. Practice more problems graphing different lines and recognizing different lines.  When you get finished with both websites, write one paragraph about what you learned for each website - label this page "Practice Recognizing".  (If you didn't learn anything, then write two paragraphs for each website on how you could improve them and why they were unhelpful.)
  •   Here is a website to help you with graphing.  Watch at least three videos and take notes in your math journal. 
            Additional Resource Videos
  •   Here is a website to help you with graphing.  Play this game and see what level you can get to.  See me if you are having trouble or need help.
            Play Graphing Games



9. Discuss different problems that apply Linear Equations to the world around us.  When both you and your partner have reached this step, discuss the following video and brainstorm together. 
  • Write down five situations where Linear Equations are found in Real Life (besides math class).  Label this page, "Application of Slope-Intercept Form".  Watch the following video to get some ideas.
           Brainstorm this video



10. Pass the QUIZ (located after the EVALUATION page) to ensure you have really learned about the coordinate plane. After taking the quiz write a three paragraph reflection in your journal on the ten steps here on the Process page.  Label this page, "Reflection".  You may use the questions below to help you write the three paragraphs - please do not only answer the questions with short responses!
  • How well did you do on the quiz?  Is this an accurate score of what you think you know about the Cartesian Coordinate Plane?  Are there areas on the quiz that you know but did not get correct?  What are they and why did you get them wrong?
  • How much time did you spend learning?  What grade would your overall project deserve?  How did the websites, videos, and Graphing Exercises help your learning?  Is there something that might have helped you learn better?  
  • What grade would you give yourself based on the amount of effort you put into this project?  How hard did you work?  Does your grade reflect how hard you tried?

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