Students love when I use zombies to describe exponential functions!

I usually like to start off the lesson by doing an example with the entire class.  I have students stand on one side of the room. One person gets to “infect” two new people.  Each person gets to infect two more people every day. As students infect each other, all infected students move to the other side of the room.  I usually turn the lights on and off to signal a new day. We then determine how many days it took to infect the entire class.

We then do the worksheet together as a class (or they can work with partners) and we learn about the characteristics of exponential functions and their equations by figuring out how long it will take for the entire US to be taken over by zombies! Students are always so shocked by how quick it takes! It also helps them to describe the graphs of exponential functions.

There also two different exit tickets that allow students to practice their own understanding of exponential functions by using the zombie apocalypse! One exit ticket is more advance and allows students to use percentages in order to figure out how long it would take to cure a population given an antidote.

I also have the answer key that is available for $1.50 with all the work shown on how to solve the problems!

I hope your students enjoy this activity as much as mine do!