Linear and Algebraic Functions Unit

Unit Overview
    This is an introductory unit for 7th graders in functions and algebra.  Students will visit a local landfill and Windham Solid Waste in Brattleboro to discuss the amount of paper product dealt with on a daily basis.  During these visits students will ask questions they have created regarding the amount of waste, its present disposal, future disposal and people involved.  Students will work in teams to discuss their findings through a classroom wiki and decide where they want to concentrate their efforts.  The teams will present their findings to an authentic audience and must choose between Parent Teacher Group, School Board, Select Board, Vermont Legislature or the creation of a website to reach a more global audience. To prepare students to use data collected and analyzed for this unit, students will learn the importance of algebraic functions. Students will collect, discover and display data for linear and non-linear relationships.  They will do several concrete experiments involving two variables and record how their values change in relationship to each other.   They will also research similar experiments on the internet and compare this additional data to original data.  

Movie Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB1a3lUEzzQ