GLEs: 2.1.1 Understand how to generate and evaluate questions that can be answered through scientific investigations. 2.1.2 Understand how to plan and conduct systematic and complex scientific investigations. 2.1.3 Synthesize a revised scientific explanation using evidence, data, and inferential logic.
Lesson: Students bring completed graphs and calculated slopes from "Stretch Graph" exercise; hand in. Show students example graphs of data that has no related pattern; graphs that show a linear relationship, and graphs that show a non-linear relationship. Teach students how to calculate slope as: Slope = rise/run = ∆y/∆x = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1). Students calculate slope using best fit lines on graphed data handout (kindness of Preston Tomes).
Assignment: Complete calculating slope on graph handout. Beneath each slope calculation write a simple declarative sentence that describes what slope "tells" you.