Algebra 1 Lesson
Slope: Reading the Rate of Change
Shared by A STEM Educator
9BTC Style / Thinking Classrooms70 min
Learning Objective
Students will calculate slope using the rise-over-run ratio from graphs, tables, and ordered pairs, and interpret the meaning of positive, negative, zero, and undefined slope.
Lesson Overview
Students progress from counting rise and run on a grid to computing slope from tables and ordered pairs, ending with interpreting negative and undefined slope in context. Each task changes exactly one variable to build fluency and conceptual depth.
Materials
- Vertical whiteboards or large paper
- Dry-erase markers (multiple colors)
- Pencil and paper
Scaffolded Task Progression
1Task 1
Look at the line graphed below. Two points are marked. Count the rise and the run between them. What is the slope?
[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
2Task 2
Look at the line graphed below. Count the rise and the run. What is the slope?
[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
3Task 3
Now look at this steeper line. Count the rise and the run. What is the slope?
[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]
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