Unit planning - characteristics of quadratics

Our unit on Absolute Value was short ... and now I find myself scrambling to get ready for our next unit on the Characteristics of Quadratic Functions.  It is also a short unit ... a focus on graphing and transformations.  We study solving quadratics as a separate unit.

I offer my outline for Day 1 and would be delighted with feedback!

Day 1 ... Introduction

Day 1.1 Opening Activity:  Vocabulary  Round UP ... what do you remember from your first year algebra course about quadratics?  Students brainstorm a list ... the beginnings of our word wall

Day 1.2 Data Exploration:

• Exeter Math Exploration:  Stacking Starbursts
• NSA Unit:  Kangaroo Conundrum (Day 1 only)

Day 1.3 Birthday Parabolas ... students use their birth dates to create a parabola (month, day, 2 digit year corresponds to a, b, c).  They label the parabola with key characteristics from our vocabulary round up. This idea comes from The Secondary Classroom blog with modifications.

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On Day 2 we are headed to Mathalicious and the Fall of Javert as we continue to explore the characteristics of quadratics.

The on Day 3 we will review multiple representations and transformations (this is an ongoing theme throughout our year ... students are already very familiar with a, h, and k!)  I have a set of cards ... each student gets a card, four cards make a set ... so students create foursomes.  I still need to flesh out this day ... 

Last on Day 4 we will graph inequalities ... not sure yet what this day will look like at all.  It may be a Desmos exploration day!