Unit Authors
This unit was created by Kayla Greer, a student teacher at O'Farrell Community School. This unit was created for primarily 7th and 8th grade students using the Merrill Pre-Algebra textbook.
Content Areas
This unit integrates Art and Computers as well as Language Arts and Science to a lesser extent.
Organizing Theme
The main focus of this unit involves
- Learning about the make-up of a graph
- Learning how to plot, as well as, locate points on a graph
- Using creative and critical thinking skills to devise your own picture graph
- Working in cooperative learning groups to help develop ideas and strategies for graphing.
Implementation
This multidisciplinary unit on graphing involves a one and a half to two week series of lessons.
Outline of Activities
Day 1
Students should be introduced to graphing by a possible discussion on similarities between a graph and a number line or by relating the mathematical graph to that used in the science class. Basic guidelines to graphing should be taught. As well, practice problems should be given(For example, "Graph the point (3,0)"). Problems that relate should be assigned for homework (Merrill Pre-Algebra page 223).
Day 2
Previous days lesson should be reinforced with short discussion or review of homework. Students should be given a sample graph in which they are asked to plot a series of ordered pairs. Once these points are plotted, the students will be able to recognize that the points plotted actually make a picture. These picture graphs can be designed by the teacher or may be found in some text manuals. I used a picture graph, of Snoopy, from the teachers manual for the book mentioned above.
For some students, this graphing exercise will take an entire 50 minute class period while for others it may take only 30 minutes. Have something else available for students who finish early. Assign homework that relates. Spend last 5-10 minutes of class to answer any questions and clear up any misconceptions.
Days 3 and 4
Collect Homework. Assess understanding by asking students questions or allowing them to work out homework problems on the board. Discuss picture graphs. Ask questions like, "How might we create a picture graph?" "What kinds of things might we draw for a picture graph?" Give the students graph paper and ask them to fold it in half twice. this will allow them eight sections(four on each side) to practice making picture graphs. Before, the students begin, the teacher should outline the expectations including what is appropriate etc. Let the students know that once they have chosen the design that they like best they may trade it in for another piece of graph paper so that they may make a full size picture.
Requirements for graph
- All points plotted on graph must be labeled with the appropriate corresponding ordered pair.
- The picture must use straight lines only. NO CURVES!
- The final product must include a list of the coordinates, on a separate sheet of paper, in the order that they are to be connected.
- A detailed description of their picture graph as well as the list named above will be word processed in computer class at a later date.
As an incentive, students may be offered a prize for the most creative and most original design.
This picture graph project took two to three class periods to complete. It was a fun activity and the students did an outstanding job. Below are some examples of student work.
Student Products
Many of the seventh graders were extremely creative with their design. If I could, I would publish them all on the Internet. But, since space only allows, I will show a couple of my favorites.
Dannelle Paule, a seventh grade female, created the following design that I call "Bird On A Tree." The second design was created by Mark Pagayon, a seventh grade male. His design is of Bart Simpson.
