🎨 Classroom Quests: The Parabola Restoration - Factoring w Algebra Tiles and Sketching Graphs

🎨 Classroom Quests: The Parabola Restoration

Factoring w Tiles w Art Gallery Restoration Theme

Factoring can feel like a series of abstract rules. But what if we transformed that challenge into a creative mission to restore priceless works of art? Welcome to the Gallery of Shifting Shapes!

📜 Mission Briefing

• 🎯 Mission Objective: Students will be able to factor trinomials and use the factored form to identify the x- and y-intercepts and create a rough sketch of the quadratic.
• ⏳ Class Time: 1 x 80-minute period
• 📚 Subject & Level: Secondary Math 2-3
• 👻 The Adventure: Students become "Art Restorers" tasked with factoring damaged quadratic "masterpieces" to find their original dimensions, allowing them to be sketched and displayed in the gallery.

🎒 The Armory

📋 Supply List:

• Projector/Smartboard & Google Slides
• Algebra Tiles (Physical or Virtual)
• Matching Cards ("Ancient Tablet Fragments"): Get Printable Version Here
• Digital Restoration Studio (IDO Practice): IDO Courses Assignment

👕 Costume & Prop Ideas:

Embrace your role as the "Head Curator"! An artist's apron and a clipboard are perfect. You could even add a fun beret or a large paintbrush to complete the look.

Factoring w Algebra Tiles and Sketching Graph

🗺️ The Walkthrough

✨ Introduction: The Damaged Masterpieces (Approx. 5 mins)

The Story: "Welcome, Master Restorers! The famous 'Gallery of Shifting Shapes' has hired you for a critical mission. A collection of priceless modern art, the 'Quadratic Canvases,' has been damaged. Your job is to take the smudged trinomial form and factor it to find the original canvas dimensions. This will allow us to sketch the masterpiece and unveil it for the world to see!"

⚔️ Activity 1: Reconstructing the Canvas (Approx. 20 mins)

Objective: To build a concrete, visual understanding of factoring using algebra tiles.

The Story: "Restorers, your first task is to work with these damaged fragments. Arrange them into a perfect rectangle to rediscover the masterpiece's original dimensions."

Instructions: Guide students through two or three examples using algebra tiles. Have them physically build the rectangles and write down the factored dimensions (the length and width) they discover.

Factoring with Algebra Tiles

⚔️ Activity 2: Assembling the Fragments (Approx. 10 mins)

Objective: To practice their new skills in teams.

The Story: "Your hands-on training is complete. Now, work with your restoration teams to piece together these five smaller fragments from the main collection."

Instructions: In teams, students work through the 5 matching problems from your Matching Cards document.

Factoring w Algebra Tiles to Sketch Graph

⚔️ Activity 3: The Digital Studio (Approx. 15 mins)

Objective: Independent practice with fast feedback.

The Story: "Excellent work! Now that you've mastered the team technique, it's time to work on the main collection in our high-tech digital studio."

Instructions: Students work on the 8 problems in the IDO Courses Assignment for fast feedback on their factoring and graphing.

👾 The Grand Unveiling

📝 The Final Verification

The Story: "The gallery is about to open. You must pass one final verification to prove your skills as a Master Restorer."

The Activity: Students complete an IDO quiz or a final problem as an exit ticket.

✨ The Unveiling! ✨

After the final student submits their work, play the final reward video.

"The restoration is complete. The dimensions are perfect. It is time for the grand unveiling..."

🏆 The Level Clear Screen: Restorer's Self-Assessment  

Link for Printable for Students

The Story: "The masterpieces are restored, and the gallery is a stunning success! Report back to the Head Curator. How skillful was your restoration work today?"

The Activity: On their Unit Check-off Schedule, students complete their Self-Reported Grade.

• 10 (Master Restorer!): I can restore any quadratic canvas, no matter how complex. The gallery is in safe hands with me!
• 8 (Skilled Artisan!): I'm confident with most restorations but might need to double-check my dimensions on the trickiest pieces.
• 6 (Apprentice!): I can restore a painting with some guidance from the master, but I need more practice.
• 4 (Needs a New Brush...): I'm still learning how the fragments fit together and will need more training in the studio.

💡 The Debrief

(This is where you'll add your amazing insights after teaching the lesson!)

My Thoughts:

Student Reactions: