Lesson Plan
Author: Kristi Larson; April 11, 2002.
Title: Tackling translations
Grade Level: Seventh Grade Honors Algebra
Overview: Translating graphs is a subject that is briefly touched upon in the early phases of learning about graphing. This knowledge is used throughout the rest of the mathematical career, so it is important that the concept of translation is perfected after some experience with it in order to gain a full understanding and to be able to use it at full capabilities.
Purpose: The goal of this activity is to make students who have had previous experience with translating the graphs of functions and equations more familiar with the effects of adding and subtracting numbers to and from variables. The translation of linear graphs is difficult to understand, so this concentration will help clarify the effects and properties of translating lines.
Objectives:
1)Identify the input and output of a function
2)Associate the x-variable with horizontal movement and the y-variable with vertical movement.
3)Determine the proper methods to make a graph move up, down, left and right.
4)Discover how the slope effects the translation of a line, specifically along the y-axis when the graph is translated horizontally.
5)Given different characteristics of a translation, be able to solve for the equation, function, directions of the translation, and final equation after translation.
Resources/Materials:
1)Graphing Calculators
2)Descriptive worksheet of class lecture
3)Translation Skills Worksheet
Activities and Procedures:
By following the activity sheet:
1)Discuss translating and its definition.
2)Create an understanding of x and y with horizontal and vertical movement.
3)Explain the difference of the input and output.
4)Discover the effects of adding and subtracting to the variables.
5)Demonstrate examples on the overhead and have students graph by themselves.
6)Show how a function with proper “instructions” can symbolize the translation.
7)Give a written example.
8)Discover the effects of slope on a translation of a linear equation.
9)Explore non-linear equations and their translations.
10)Problem solve the different steps of translations using the worksheet.