News
Dance Moves Help Seventh Graders Understand Slope
Seventh graders have begun exploring the slope of linear equations. They started off by discussing what slope means in the context of the real world—the steepness of a mountain, the rise over run of a staircase, or how much money you have saved at the end of six months if you save the same amount each week, as just some examples.
After discussing the meaning behind lines that have positive, negative, no slope or an undefined slope, the students gained visual and kinesthetic understanding of how the variables move on a graph—by creating dance moves. The fun factor cannot be denied.
“In my opinion, truly understanding slope and linear equations is the single most important subject I teach my students. They will use linear equations in every math class they take from seventh grade on to advanced mathematics in college. In addition, linear equations are used in science classes and businesses classes, and are used in graphics that explain real-world phenomena in the news.” When students ask her, "When am I ever going to use this in the real world?" she says, “I can point to multiple venues where ‘all things linear’ are used in their studies and their lives.” In addition, in eighth grade math the students apply what they have learned in seventh, and build on all things linear with a stock market equilibrium project.
To deepen the students' understanding of lines that have positive, negative, no slope, or an undefined slope, says Ms. Frank, “We dance! We create beautiful dance moves that get us up and moving, to show what our slopes look like!” Dance moves aside, this particular topic will be something the students really do use from well beyond middle school.
