About this Activity: 

This activity uses google drawing. The activity uses two transparent boxes that are much larger than the activity area to separate the objects that students do not need to manipulate from the objects that students need to interact with.

This activity is used near the beginning of algebra 1 to introduce functions. Students start by sorting the functions into any groups based on what they notice about the groups. After learning how to recognize functions from non-functions based on graphs, the students sort the graphs into functions and non-functions. Finally, after learning about 5 parent functions (linear, quadratic, exponential, absolute value, and linear piece-wise) the students sort the graphs into the parent functions. 

Graphs can easily be added or taken away from this activity and the groups names are editable by both teachers and students. To make the groups names unmodifiable by your students, right click on each group name and select send to back. 

Tips for implementing:

Have your students read the three info boxes and delete them. 

Tell your students to use the zoom (magnifying glass on menu bar) and arrow (to the right of the magnifying glass). When using the zoom feature 50% and Fit are the best options. Fit will reset the screen directly on the groups. 

The arrow is used to relabel groups and move the graphs into different groups. 

Potential problems and solutions 

One pain point in this activity is a student forgetting that they have the zoom tool selected and trying to move a graph. An easy fix for this is clicking Fit under the zoom tool to reset the graphs on the screen and then selecting the arrow key. 

Another is a student accidentally deleting a graph. Pressing ‘Ctrl + z’ on the students keyboard will bring the graph back.