Ready for your introduction to slope lesson? Have you ever tried explaining the concept of slope to a middle school or high school class and watched their eyes glaze over? Trust me, I’ve been there. But what if I told you that teaching slope could actually be… fun? Let me share some tips and tricks I’ve used in my classroom to make learning about linear equations and the slope of a line not just educational, but also engaging and relatable for 7th and 8th grade students.
Thefirst timeI taught slope, I was honestly a little confused myself! LOL But these days, I have a pretty good grasp on it.
Slope Lesson Hook
Before I begin my lesson, I show a GoPro ski video. Towards the end, it appears that the skier is going off a cliff (he is) but he has a parachute! It hooks students in and then they wonder why the heck we’re watching it. I then ask students if they’ve ever been skiing and I give them an opportunity to share about their experience.
#1 Tip for Your Introduction to Slope Lesson – Start with a Story
After the video, I share the story of my first and last time skiing.I was a total newbie, thinking bunny slopes would be a piece of cake. Spoiler alert: they weren’t! They tell you to form a ‘pizza’ with your skis to stop, but let’s just say my pizza-making skills needed work. Picture me, sprawled in the snow, but hey, I’m no quitter. Fast forward, I’m toppling off a ski lift (did you know those things don’t stop?!) and eventually scooting down the mountain. Bottom line? This hilarious, slightly embarrassing story is my go-to for explaining different slopes. It’s a hit every time!
This anecdote isn’t just for laughs. It’s a perfect segue into discussing different types of slope using a presentation in Google Slides.
When we talk about the positive slope,it’s like going up the ski lift– exciting and upward!
Thenegative slope?That’s the scary, downward plunge.
Zero slopeis the boring walk from one slope to the next, andundefinedslope… well, think about tumbling off the side of a mountain. This story not only breaks the ice but also gives a visual and emotional connection to the slope concepts.
So this is your sign to go skiing so you have a story to tell!
This anecdote isn’t just for laughs. It’s a perfect segue into discussing differenttypes of slopeusing a presentation inGoogle Slides.
Incorporating technology like Google Slides into your lesson plans is a great way to keep students engaged. They can interact with the material, and it’s a fantastic tool for visual explanations of linear functions. In this self-checking Google Slides activity, students practice identifying the Types of Slope from a given graph.
Slope Formula – Making it Stick
Theslope formulatends to confuse students because they are so stuck on how we graph anordered pairand the fact that you go left/right and then up/down on they axis. However, slope is the opposite! I always start by explaining how you mustrisein an elevator beforerunning to your location. We talk about thevertical change(rise) over thehorizontal change(run), relating it to steps taken up or down and sideways.
Slope-Intercept Formin Real Life
If you can, try to show students howslope intercept formapplies to real life, like calculating the cost of phone plans or the speed of a car. This approach turns abstract concepts into something tangible and easier to grasp. I also like to explain that “m” is used for slope because it stands formonterin French which may or may not mean mountain. I may or may not have made this up…
Link toProportional RelationshipsandUnit Rate
Slope is closely related to proportional relationships and unit rate. Use examples like comparing distances traveled over time or cost per item to make these connections clear. This not only reinforces the concept of slope but also ties in with Virginia and common core standards. For students in need of support, this proportional relationships bundle for 6th grade students would be an excellent introduction to slope.
Different Ways to ApproachTeaching Slope
Thankfully, there isn’t just one way to teach slope. Students will usually catch on with one of the ways. For visual learners, graphing is agreat wayto see and understand slope. For those who prefer formulas, theslope formulaworks best. And for those who love stories, anecdotes like my ski trip can be a memorable method.
It is critical to spend ample time practicing the many skills related to slope.Independent workis great but I also love group work.Small groupswork wonders. Let students collaborate and solve problems together. This encourages discussion and helps them learn from each other. I often use inquiry activities where students discover the slope concept through guided questioning. This multiple representations matching activity REALLY helps the lightbulb go off for my students!
At theend of the lesson, I love to give anexit ticketto gauge student understanding and inform my lesson for the next day.
Conclusion
Teaching theconcept of slopedoesn’t have to be hard! Get creative and be patient! Grab this DONE FOR YOU lesson that is complete with guided notes and activities to help you teachslope of a linewith ease. We all know practice makes perfect. I include a variety ofpractice problemsin mylesson plans, from simple calculations to finding the slope from a graph. Make sure to haveanswer keyshandy for quick checking.
With the right approach, resources, and a bit of creativity, you can transform this fundamental topic into an enjoyable and enlightening lesson for your students.
I hope you try some of these ideas the next time you teach your introduction to slope lesson!
Links Mentioned:
- GoPro Skiing video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwbP9WLX3fY
- Slope andLinear FunctionsScaffolded Notes.
- FreeTypes of SlopeGoogle Slidesand Student Handouts.
- Full Year of8th GradeMath Exit Tickets
