Apps Utilized in Lesson: GeoGebra and Pic Collage

Activity 1: Brainstorming
What are scenarios in which we will see parabolic curves?
What are some structures that we see with parabolas?

Activity 2: Data Collection

Option 1: Go out onto the campus and take pictures of parabolas we come across on campus
(water fountains, structures, wiring, etc.)
Option 2: Use a search engine (google) to find parabolic shapes in the real world or even
burst shots of parabolic movement (Examples posted on Unit Lesson site)

Activity 3: Approximating Graph

App - GeoGebra
Step 1
Insert Image (under the edit tab) into GeoGebra
place as background image (image properties)
Step 2
Determine approximate values for the x-intercepts, a-value, and vertex
Step 3
We will graph a function using our x-intercepts, a-value, vertex and input function at the
bottom of the screen (Plug values into vertex form of a quadratic)
Save the image using a screenshot and our approximated function
Step 4
Start again with a clean graph and image
Define a directrix and focus for our parabola
Step 5
Shift around our directrix and focus until we have a parabola that matches our curve
Step 6
Save the image using a screenshot and our function

Take a minute and compare graphs and how close (or different) the two functions you
found are
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Activity 4: Pic Collage Poster
App - Pic Collage
Put together a poster with our 3 images (original image and our images with the graphs).
Describe with text boxes how we derived each function to represent our curve. Lastly
include a legend indicating how the variables relate to the image.

Final Poster Example