Grades: 8

th
or 9
th
grade
Subject: Algebra

Topic-Parabolas
Summary- Students will learn to form their own quadratic equations. They will study
the flights of objects, draw parabolas, and learn the vocab concerning quadratic
equations.
Goals & Objectives: After this lesson students will be able to follow a deeper
understanding to quadratic equations.
Define vocabulary from the chapter
Construct a parabola of their own and give the proper equations
Time Needed: three 47 minute class periods will be needed to complete this lesson.
Materials: Color pencils, mapping grid paper, mapping calculator
Teaching Procedures:
1. Start the week with a new chapter in the textbook over parabolas. The first
day I will be teaching the subject and getting the students familiar with all the
terms, the techniques, and how to construct the parabolas. I will assign a
homework assignment for the night to allow the students to dive into the
subject.
2. The second day I will start the first of class asking the students if they have
any questions over their homework. After I believe the students are ready to
move on to the project I will assign the creative assignment
3. Their assignment is to invent their own level of the game Angry Birds.
This will drawing will include:
A projectile path of the bird
A creative and colorful layout of their invented level
Two different paths of two different birds; paths must be
parabolas (shows axis of symmetry and vertex)
The equation and all the work underneath the picture on
how they developed their equation
On their sheet I will require 3 vocabulary terms be defined
from the chapter
Lastly, I want the students to describe how the blocks in
which their birds hit, will fall.
4. The third day will be used to finish up the project in class. They will be
required to bring all their supplies needed to finish their projects. The more
creative and unique ideas given on their sheet will aid in extra points.
Student Assessment:
Through creativity my students will be able to understand the path of a parabola. They
will see the relation between the path and its equation. They will understand the
vocabulary used throughout the chapter by putting it into use through this project.
Additional:
The students will present their projects to the class the fourth day and then
we will hang them in the hallway bulletin board for others to view.