Modeling Exponential Increment Together With Decay Amongst Skittles

Okay.  This post has been setting inward my drafts for a VERY long time!  Exponential Functions were Unit iii inward Algebra ii this year.

Last summer, I attended several weeks of workshops together with conferences.  At the starting fourth dimension workshop of the summer, I got to participate inward an action that used M&Ms to model exponential decay.  I loved it, together with I decided that it was definitely going to discovery a house inward my lessons for the year.

At a unlike workshop, nosotros did a real similar action using M&Ms.  But, this fourth dimension nosotros modeled both exponential increment together with exponential decay.  I was fifty-fifty to a greater extent than inward honey alongside the action after this!

We bring a educatee at our schoolhouse alongside a severe peanut allergy, together with hence I opted to role Skittles instead of M&Ms for this activity.

They tell honesty is the best policy.  And, I actually don't bring whatever argue to prevarication to you.  I desire this weblog to hold upwards an honest reflection of my teaching experience.  If something industrial plant well, I'm gonna share/brag nigh it.  If something doesn't function well, I'm going to reverberate on the sense together with endeavor to larn from it.

This is i of those activities that did non function well.  Okay, it was terrible.

Reasons why it bombed:
* I did this lesson a Friday.  Students were already on weekend-mode.
* This should bring been a 2-3 twenty-four hours lesson.  Again, I was determined to fit this inward on a Fri together with start the novel chapter on Monday.
* My explanations could bring been clearer.  My students actually struggled alongside reading the instructions together with next them on their own.
*  I should bring given my students to a greater extent than do alongside using their calculator's regression capabilities earlier doing this activity.  They had done linear regression a seat out of times.  But, nosotros had never done an exponential regression.
*  I should bring given them notes on how to perform a regression inward their notebooks that they could refer dorsum to.
*  I spent the entire degree catamenia running to a greater extent than or less similar a chicken alongside its caput cutting off.

Further proof that this action needs some work:

Quote from educatee piece doing some other action after inward the year:

Is this actually gonna hold upwards fun?  Because yous said that skittles affair was going to hold upwards fun, together with it wasn't.

Bowls to Hold Materials for Each Group

Last summer, I picked upwards these cute trivial bowls at Dollar Tree.  They were iv for a dollar, together with I simply knew that I could discovery something to role them for inward my classroom.  They made the perfect vehicle for asset each group's Skittles.  

Each educatee was given a booklet foldable that had the instructions for both labs inward it.  Below the instructions, at that topographic point was room for students to do their tabular array together with graph.  They were asked to perform a linear together with exponential regression inward fellowship to determine which regression best matched the data.  Way likewise many of my groups decided that the linear regression was the best fit.

Next year, I'm going to bring to pass to a greater extent than fourth dimension talking nigh how to determine which equation best fits the data.  I assumed that was a concept that my students would hold upwards able to intuitively understand, but I was wrong!  

Exponential Decay Instructions

Exponential Growth Instructions

Each grouping was asked to launder their hands or role paw sanitizer earlier starting!  They were given a bowl, a handbag of Skittles, together with a newspaper plate.    

Skittles Lab Supplies

Following the instructions inward the lab, they shook their bowls of skittles, poured them out, looked to come across which ones did together with did non bring an southward showing.

Looking for S's

Want the file to role or alter for your ain classroom?  It tin give notice hold upwards downloaded below.  If yous can't acquire the file to open, ship me an email at mathequalslove (at) gmail (dot) com, together with I'll hold upwards happy to attach the file together with ship it to you!

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