Algebra 1

This page is an archive from when I last taught Algebra 1, Part 1.

I will certainly update things the next time I teach an Algebra 1 course.

The two different Syllabi offer a brief overview of course, including grading and classroom policies, for each of the sections of Algebra 1. These are updated when I teach a new section, so one or both might be a few semesters old depending on my schedule.

The Calendar is my "18-week plan" that I use as a pacing guideline for the current course I'm teaching. While it will inevitably change as the semester goes on (and I try to update it here from time to time), it might be a useful reference for the students as well.

The Textbook link is to the ClassZone website created by the textbook publisher McDougal Littell. It provides additional resources such as extra examples, tutorials, challenges, and real-life applications.

Advanced Grapher is a graphing software application that allows students to graph relations of different types in one window, including scatter plots . Students can click the Advanced Grapher link to download the software for use at home in the event they do not have access to a graphing calculator at home. A product key is required after 30 days, and that key is available to KMHS students in class.

It's been a while since I've taught Part 2, so the resources here

are a bit lopsided to the first half of Algebra 1...

Classroom Resources.

This is where I will post any instructional resources for students to use in class. I'm slowly "converting" things from paper to Word files, so hopefully this section will grow in the near future!

Calculator Basics - Not all Algebra 1 teachers use graphing calculators since they aren't allowed on the EOCT, but I think students learn the content better with them. This document walks the "first timer" through a few of the functionalities that we use in class, just in case someone forgets the steps.

Excel Basics - Some of the activities in class require the use of Excel for graphing and/or finding model equations. This document walks those unfamiliar with the software through a linear example.

Solving Linear Equations - This is a step-by-step process for solving linear equations. It might not provide the most efficient solution, but it should work for any equation we see in Chapter 3.

Graphing Linear Equations - You can use this strategy for graphing any linear equation in Chapter 4 (and beyond).

Writing Linear Equations - This document is a graphic organizer (flowchart) that might help with writing linear equations in Chapter 5.

Solving and Graphing Inequalities - This document is not much more than a few notes (with examples) for the solving and graphing of one-variable inequalities seen in Chapter 6.

Classroom Activities.

As is the case with the classroom resources, I'm trying to get some of my more effective activities and projects posted here. Some need a little updating with screen shots and calculator keystrokes, but you can use them as a starting point anyway!

Direct Variation Lab - This activity has students measure several objects to model a direct variation.

Flight Lab (linear modeling) - This activity has students to research and analyze air travel information.

Exponential Lab (exponential behavior) - This activity has students explore the effects of the constants in an exponential function. The TI-InterActive! file here is required.

Growth and Decay Lesson - This is a PowerPoint presentation that introduces the concepts of exponential growth and decay. Here is the checkpoint referred to in the presentation, and the population and M&M activities are listed below (they can each be used independently from this lesson).

Population Lab (exponential growth) - This activity has students research and analyze location population data.

M&M Lab (exponential decay) - This activity has students perform an experiment with candy to simulate radioactive decay.

Vertical Motion Lab (quadratic modeling) - This activity has students take data from a "ball drop" experiment and then analyze the motion's behavior.

Boyle's Law Lab (inverse variation) - This activity has students use a gas pressure sensor in an experiment to model the relationship between volume and pressure.

Classroom Study Guides.

Part 1 Midterm - This document contains a list of topics and sample exercises that students can expect to see on the Part 1 midterm exam.

Part 1 Final - Like the midterm above, this document contains a list of topics and sample exercises that students can expect to see on the Part 1 final exam.

EOCT Study Guide (A) - This links you to the first half of the DOE's study guide for the End-of-Course Test in Algebra 1. There is a ton of information including topics covered, sample questions, and test preparation suggestions.

EOCT Study Guide (B) - This is the link to the second half of the above-mentioned EOCT study guide.

Jeopardy Review Games.

Somewhere along the way, I picked up a template for a Jeopardy-type game using PowerPoint. I've noticed that some students like playing the games as a way of reviewing before the test (and some teachers like using them in class, too!), so I've tried to create one for each test in this course.

As a disclaimer, I change these before each exam to emphasize the topics presented to my particular courses. Teachers might prefer to change some of the questions to better fit their specific needs.

Chapter 1	Chapter 6	Chapter 10a
Chapter 2	Chapter 7	Chapter 10b
Chapter 3	Chapter 8	Chapter 11a
Chapter 4	Chapter 9a	Chapter 11
Chapter 5	Chapter 9	Chapter 12

Additional Resources.

Here are a few additional links that students can use for finding extra help (study guides, practice worksheets, etc). I haven't used them much myself, but other students have and seem to find them useful.

Algebrahelp.com - This site contains lessons, worksheets, and calculators listed by topic. The calculators will work out problems step-by-step so that students can get an idea of not only the answer, but the solution to that answer.

Purplemath - This site acts as a portal to other help sites, but there is a lesson index at the right that offers help by topic (most of the topics in Algebra 1 can be found under Beginning Algebra Topics and Intermediate Algebra Topics).

Algebra.com - This site advertises free help with algebra homework and has tutorials and problem solving calculators.

SparkNotes - This site offers more than just math help and can be a little overwhelming with everything it offers, so this just links you directly to the math help index.