ALEX Learning Activity

Stained Glass Systems

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: DeLaura Downs
System:Jefferson County
School:Jefferson County Board Of Education
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2273
Title:
Stained Glass Systems
Digital Tool/Resource:
Stained Glass Systems Student Sheet
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

Students are given the scenario of being commissioned to create a stained-glass window for a new architecture firm. This provides a real-world scenario for students to practice graphing systems of equations (simultaneous pairs of linear equations), as well as creating systems of equations when given constraints.

This activity is a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 8
12. Solve systems of two linear equations in two variables by graphing and substitution.

a. Explain that the solution(s) of systems of two linear equations in two variables corresponds to points of intersection on their graphs because points of intersection satisfy both equations simultaneously.

b. Interpret and justify the results of systems of two linear equations in two variables (one solution, no solution, or infinitely many solutions) when applied to real-world and mathematical problems.
Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.8.12 Solve two-step linear equations where coefficients are less than 10 and answers are integers.
Learning Objectives:

I can solve systems of linear equations by graphing.

I can solve systems of linear equations in a real-world context.

 
  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

The student will be able to graph systems of linear equations and determine a solution by using a real-world scenario of creating a stained glass window using constraints. Students will be given the systems of equations to graph and will then solve them by graphing them on graph paper. Students can either label the solution on the graph, or they can write or type the solution on the direction sheet. This is up to the teacher's discretion. Students will be able to further show their understanding of the solution to a system of equations by creating their own systems that pass through a given point on the coordinate plane. In addition, students will color code polygons that are formed by the intersection of the simultaneous pairs of equations, creating a stained glass image.

The teacher can post digital tool either on Google Classroom or can provide a hard copy to each student.
Assessment Strategies:

The teacher will review student work to make sure that students are correctly solving the systems of equations by graphing by checking solutions that are either written on the final product or by checking solutions that are given on the direction sheet.
Advanced Preparation:

You will need to post a copy of the instructions on Google Classroom or share a Google Doc with students.

You could also provide a copy of instructions to each student if technology is not available.

Each student will need graph paper to complete the task, as well as colored pencils or markers to color the identified polygons.
Variation Tips (optional):

Teachers can graph systems and have students give equations for the lines.

Students can give characteristics of polygons found and justify reasoning.

 
Notes or Recommendations (optional):

I use this as a class activity after students have graphed linear equations and following an introduction to graphing a system of linear equations.
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: graphing, graphing systems of equations, linear systems, simultaneous pairs of equations, system of equations