Describe the graph

This is a short lesson where students create a graph in Quadrant I and then interpret the graph into a story. This lesson allows the student who enjoys writing to "go wild" in math. It will be difficult for some students to think in the abstract way this lesson requires, but with teacher guidance all students should experience success.

Weblink address (URL): 
Describe the graph

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Plot points given its coordinate.
  • Create a line plot.
  • Describe the line plot in a real life context specifically hitting on the points plotted.
Essential and guiding questions: 

Questions for Students:

  • How do the coordinates of the point locate that point on the coordinate grid?
  • How do the coordinates of the points link to the story that you wrote?
  • What portion of the coordinate plane are we working in?
  • What is another way of telling someone to get to the next point without naming it by its ordered pair?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Extension suggestions: 

Extensions:

  • Once this lesson is complete you can then use is in the opposite direction. Copy the stories that were written being sure not to include names. Randomly pass them out to students along with a sheet of large graph paper. Have students create the graph from the story being sure to include a title and labels for the axis.
  • Have students draw numbers from two bags. One bag should contain the integers from 0 to 10 (possible x-values). The second bag should contain the integers from -10 to 10 (possible y-values). Have students repeat the lesson.
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Helpful Hints

Materials:

  • Graphing calculators or another method to generate random numbers
  • Large graph paper 
  • Rulers
  • Markers or colored pencils
  • Describe the Graph Activity Sheet 
  • Describe the Graph Overhead 

References

Contributors: 
Ashley King
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation