Algebra Fun

This is a great activity that I use in my Algebra 1 class to introduce exponential functions. Students have to answer real life example questions in order to determine the characteristics of an exponential function. I let students work with a partner and then we go over the worksheet as a class. Students love answering the question "would you rather get a million dollars at the end of 1 month or earn a penny doubled everyday for 30 days?" Students need to have prior knowledge of exponential

I use this in my Algebra 1 class to introduce slope. I start out with a story about my "first skiing experience." I explain how when I was on the ski lift it was fun and I had a "positive experience." Then I was going way too fast down the hill and my feelings were very negative. Then I got to the bottom and I was cruising and I had 0 feelings. Then there was a small cliff at the end that I did not notice and my feelings were undefined as I was falling. My students absolutely love this stor

I give this to my students as we begin reviewing for state testing. I taught in the State of Ohio and this aligns with the end of course exam required for Ohio Graduation Requirements (AIR State Testing). This summarizes key topics that show up on the AIR test every year for Algebra 1. I used the AIR practice test and release items from 2016-2023 to determine the key concepts. I gave this to my students as a way to prepare for the state test.

This is my answer key that goes along with my Zombie Apocalypse activity to teach exponential functions.

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 e

This is a great review activity for Algebra 1. It covers topics taught all throughout the year (slope, sequences, exponential functions, quadratics, etc.). Therefore, I would use this activity to review before a final or a state test (we use the Algebra 1 AIR assessment in Ohio). I usually put students into pairs and have them work through each question together. Each question covers a different topic and they have to pick which two are solved incorrectly and which one is correct.

I use this activity when reviewing factoring trinomials in Algebra 1. The questions range in difficulty and include trinomials when a=1 and when a does not equal 1. Students will create their own bingo card by randomly placing the answers into the boxes on their bingo card. I then display the questions on the board one at a time. Students factor each trinomial and then look for the answer on their bingo card. My class period is only 40 minutes. Therefore, when one person gets a bingo, we kee

This activity does not have to be used for Valentine's Day. I use it after students have learned all the different methods of factoring (factor by grouping, factoring a trinomial, and difference of squares). This can be used as an exit ticket activity or a fun way to assign partners. Each student will get a polynomial that they have to factor. Each answer will give them two binomials. Students will already have one of the binomials on their card and they will have to find out who has the o

This is a great activity to use when reviewing multi-step equations. Students have to find the error in each equation and then solve the equation correctly. There's multiple ways you can use this assignment. One way is I assign each student a partner and give them a group number. Their group number matches the problem they will be solving. For example, if they are group two, they will be solving question two. Once each group solves their problem, each group goes up to the board one by one

This is a great review activity of perpendicular and parallel lines. I hang the seven questions up around my classroom. Each question has an answer written at the bottom. However, the answer does not match that question. I use the handout numbered 1-7 for each student to take around the room and solve each question (I then have them turn in their handout at the end of class). Students can start at any number. They will solve that question and then look for their answer on one of the other

Great activity for reviewing transformations. I have five different stations...reflection, translation, rotation, dilation, and compositions. I usually have students spend about 8 minutes at each station (we have 46 minute classes). Students then work on the questions assigned to each station. They collect the worksheets as they go through the stations. Therefore, by the time they are done, they should have 5 worksheets. If they do not finish the worksheet at a station, that is ok. They

This is a review of Quadratic Functions that model the AIR End of Course Exam in the State of Ohio. I use this as a review at the end of the unit and I allow students to use Desmos since they have access to that online calculator on the AIR test. It's a great way to have students review Quadratic Functions while also preparing for the AIR Test.

This is a packet that covers the three methods to solving a quadratic (factoring, completing the square, and quadratic formula). This packet aligns with the Common Core Standards and have guided notes and homework questions. I have found that have their notes and homework all in one packet helps with organization and note taking skills. It also helps with building connections between the methods. I usually have my students turn in their packet completed on the day of the test. My students lo

This is a practice test I created for using the three methods to solve a quadratic without graphing (completing the square, factoring, and quadratic formula). You can decide to use this as a test instead of a practice test. The practice test includes a word problem and questions that ask students to relate their solutions to the graphs of quadratics.

This is a great review once your students have learned how to graph a parabola from both standard and vertex form. I have also used this as a review assignment right before the chapter test.

This is a short quiz I use in my Algebra 1 class that covers linear functions. This quiz aligns with the common core standards and includes real life application problems. Students have to use a variety of methods to represent and solve the problems.