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This teacher resource consists of a set
of 5 stations designed to review the topics of equations, inequalities,
absolute value inequalities and graphing in various applied settings.
The 5 stations are designed to be used together, along with an answer
sheet, but can also be used separately as discussion/demonstration
problems if the teacher so desires. (The 5 station pages and answer
sheet are linked below.)
Directions for working
with stations: Divide your class into
groups (3 or 4 students per group would be advantageous). For this
activity, there should be either 5 groups or 10 groups (repeating the 5
stations). Cluster desks around the room to form the stations.
Place the station direction sheet and any needed materials at each
station. Placing the direction sheet for each station in a plastic
page protector will prevent students from writing directly on the sheets.
If students should write on the plastic page protector, you can quickly
remove the writing, including marks made with a pen, with a normal eraser.
Assign students to their starting stations.
Circulate around the room to see when the groups are finished with this
first session. Ask students (at your designated signal) to then move
to the next sequentially numbered station. Do not let students move
"at will" as it can become too confusing and distracting. The time
at each station is approximately 5 minutes once students are seated.
Note: If you
need 10 stations, copy the second set of pages on different colored paper
so students can keep straight with sections are theirs. The answer
sheet has a "Group A" or "Group B" designation which can be circled to
indicate which colored stations were completed. Also, different
samples of Froot Loops can be prepared for the different colored stations.
This station set consists of the following
topics:
Station 1:
(Absolute
Value Inequality)
Students are asked to develop and solve an absolute
value inequality pertaining to the weight of Froot Loop Snack
Bags in relation to a given tolerance. The task is then
extended to weighing pre-made snack bags to determine if they
will be accepted or rejected based upon their weight.
Prepare 5 snack bags of Froot Loops labeled A, B, C, D, and E.
Be sure that some of the bags are within the given tolerance
and some are not within the given tolerance. You might
want to staple/tape the bags to discourage students from
opening the samples.
The Science Department graciously provided a digital scale
to be used for this activity. If you cannot obtain a
scale, label the bags with their designated weights.
At the end of this station activity, students were each
given a Froot Loop Snack Bag (separate from the
samples) for snacking.
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Station 2: (Inequalities)
(Contour Design, Inc. has graciously
given their permission for the use and posting of their
advertisement for The PerFit Mouse.)Students are
asked to determine the size of their mouse hand (based upon an
advertisement measurement chart) and the correct size mouse to
order. The task is then extended to translating the
measurement chart into inequality expressions and number line
graphs.
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Station 3: (Equation solving and
graphing)
Students are asked to set up and solve an equation
based upon a car rental scenario. The task is extended to
solving the equation graphically on the graphing calculator.
The graph requires the adjustment of the window in order to view
the solution.
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Station 4: (Graphing Inequalities and Absolute
Value Inequalities on the TI-83+)
Students are asked to match inequality expression
and absolute value inequality expressions with given graphing
calculator displays. The expressions include compound
inequalities.
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Station 5:
(Inequalities and Graphing)
Students are asked to write an inequality statement,
solve the inequality, and graph the inequality in a county fair
scenario.
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