Vectors Lesson Plans: scroll through the unit, click on linked lessons

 

* missing lessons are part of the motion unit

 

Lesson 1:  Motion Diagrams*

Engagement:  Think Time: Draw a picture of a fast duck and a slow duck

Activity 1:  Experiment with motion diagram machines

            Activity 2:  Notes: Motion Diagrams

Activity 3:  Chapter 3 Review (p. 60): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Homework:  Section Review 3.1 (p. 46): 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4

Lesson 2:  Intro to Vectors

Engagement:  Think Time: Draw a picture of a fast duck and a slow duck.

Activity 1:  Notes: Vectors & Scalars

            Activity 2:  Game: Escape Zero

            Activity 3:  Start the homework early

Homework: Read Glencoe Physics (p. 49-51): Time Intervals & Displacements, Study Guide p. 14 & 15

Lesson 3: Coordinate Systems

Engagement:  Send a volunteer out of the classroom

Activity 1:  Students give directions from point A to point B

            Activity 2:  Notes: Coordinate Systems & Intervals

            Activity 3:  Section Review 3.2 (p. 51): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Homework: Read Glencoe Physics (p. 53-59): section 3.3, Worksheet: Motion Diagrams & 3 Study Guide p. 16 on the back

Lesson 4: Average Speed/Velocity & Acceleration*

            Engagement: After today we should be able to solve real problems.

Activity 1: Example (p. 59): make a motion diagram of this problem

            Activity 2: Notes: Speed, Velocity, & Acceleration

            Activity 3: Section Review 3.3: 3.1, 3.2

Homework: Chapter 3 Review (p. 61): 13-19

Lesson 5:  Tank Lab (Day 1): Make a position vs. time graph*

Engagement:  Today we are going to do a lab

Activity 1:  Explanation

            Activity 2:  Data Collection

            Activity 3:  Graphing Data

Homework: Read Glencoe Physics (p. 63-66): section 4.1a, 4 Study Guide p. 20 & 21

Lesson 6:  Tank Lab (Day 2): Make a velocity vs. time graph*

Engagement:  Today we are going to finish our lab

Activity 1:  Demonstration: how to do math in Excel

            Activity 2:  Calculate: Velocity

            Activity 3:  Graph: Velocity vs. Timer

            Homework: Chapter 4 Review (p. 77): 1-6

Lesson 7: Graphical Vector Addition (Day 1)

Engagement: Think Time: Predict what will happen when two identical cars, traveling at the same speed collide at right angles?

Activity 1:  Notes: Vector Diagrams & Adding Vectors Graphically

            Activity 2:  Guided Practice: Adding Vectors Graphically

            Activity 3:  Start the homework early

Homework: Chapter 4 Practice Problems (p. 67): 1-4

Lesson 8:  Graphical Vector Addition (Day 2)

Engagement:  Ask for a volunteer

Activity 1:  The Paper River ← a toy tank drives across a ‘river’ (taped together paper)

            Activity 2:  Solving problems with the paper river

Activity 3:  Chapter 4 Practice Problems (p. 67): 5-10

Homework: Section Review 4.1 (p. 71): all

Lesson 9:  Graphically Subtracting Vectors

Engagement:  Think Time: What happens when two cars have a head-on collision?

Activity 1:  Notes: Subtracting Vectors ← Subtracting Vectors.ppt

            Activity 2:  Example Problem ← Subtracting Vectors.ppt

            Activity 3:  Worksheet: Subtracting Vectors

            Homework: Study Guide p. 22 (on the back of Subtracting Vectors)

Lesson 10:  Practice Adding & Subtracting Vectors Graphically ← lesson not yet written

Engagement: 

Activity 1: 

            Activity 2: 

            Activity 3: 

            Homework: ?

Lesson 11:  Pythagorean Theorem

Engagement:  Think/Pair/Share: How would you find the displacement between my desk and the art room door. ← going through the door makes a right triangle

Activity 1:  Example problem where the Pythagorean Theorem applies

Activity 2:  Notes: Pythagorean Theorem

Activity 3:  Example: #1 on Pythagorean Theorem

Homework: Worksheet: Pythagorean Theorem

Lesson 12:  Law of Cosines

Engagement:  Think/Pair/Share: How would you find the displacement between the sink and the art room door. ← going through the door makes an obtuse triangle

Activity 1:  Example problem where the Pythagorean Theorem doesn’t apply

Activity 2:  Notes: Law of Cosines

Activity 3:  Example: #1 on Law of Cosines

Homework: Worksheet: Law of Cosines

Lesson 13:  Find the Displacement through the Wall

Engagement:  Ask for two volunteers.

Activity 1:  Explanation of the lab

Activity 2:  Make instructions for another pair

Activity 3:  Follow another set of instructions

Homework: Read Glencoe Physics (p. 72 – 76): section 4.2, Write/Explain (in your own words): What are components of vectors?

Lesson 14:  Trig. Identities

Engagement:  Read student definitions of components.

Activity 1: Example: Chapter 4 Practice Problem (p. 76): #16

Activity 2: Handout: Trigonometry

Activity 3: Helpdesk: kids who need help work with me, everyone else starts the homework

Homework: Worksheet: Trig. Identities

Lesson 15:  Components

Engagement:  Write a new definition of the component of a vector.

Activity 1:  Handout: Vector Addition

Activity 2:  Notes: Components

Activity 3:  Example: #1 a & b on Components

Homework: Worksheet: Components

Lesson 16:  Vector Word Problems

Engagement:  Today is your last chance to figure out these word problems before the test

Activity 1:  Review compass directions

Activity 2:  Chapter 4 Review (p. 79): 26, 27, 28, 29

Activity 3:  Begin the homework

Homework: Practice Problems (p. 76): 15-18

Lesson 17:  Vector Assessment

Engagement:  Today you get to show me what you know

Activity 1:  Last minute review

Activity 2:  Vector Test

Activity 3:  Reading Assignment

Homework: Reading questions