Dinner Party: Using pattern trains to demonstrate linear functions

The purpose of this lesson plan is to give students a real life application of how to recognize and use a linear function. Too often, the experience of learning linear functions is relegated to memorizing an algorithm with little attachment to anything concrete. This abstract learning experience, disconnected from anything tangible or real, relies solely on the ability of the student to memorize the steps to solve the problem. Most struggling math learners lack the ability to retain information, unless it is connected to a concrete model or real life experience. By participating in the exploration in this lesson, students will design a linear function without realizing it! This lesson will help demystify this abstract content.

Author: Austin James

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