Running Head: MODELING WITH TRIGONOMETRY LESSON 1

Modeling with Trigonometry Lesson

Danielle May

TED 634 Content Area Literacy

October 27th, 2017

Instructor: Deborah Spellman Smith

MODELING WITH TRIGONOMETRY LESSON 2

Modeling with Trigonometry Lesson

Subject: Pre-Calculus

Grade: 9-12

Common Core Standard:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSF.TF.B.5

Choose trigonometric functions to model periodic phenomena with specified amplitude,

frequency, and midline.

CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP4

Model with mathematics.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.4

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases

based on grades 9-10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Learning Goals:

• Students will be able to compose the basic sine and cosine functions.

• Students will be able to model real world periodic phenomena with a

trigonometric function.

• Students will be able to determine and clarify the meanings of words associated

with periodic behavior.

Rationale:

Assessing student understanding of the content is a critical aspect of planning and

instructing lessons. Along with continually assessing student progress and comprehension

through observation and questioning, the homework handout will act as an assessment

tool to determine if students can model periodic functions on their own. “After the
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introduction of new materials and skills, a teacher should provide opportunities for

practice” (McKenna & Robinson, 2009, p. 187). Thus, after the partner activity where the

students modeled a periodic phenomenon, the students will complete a similar task on

their own for homework without teacher or peer assistance. Then, I can determine student

understanding of the material by assessing if the students were able to complete the

homework handout with accuracy. In addition, “as students become better prepared to

undertake practice activities on their own, not only does the teacher’s role diminish but

the frequency of the activities declines as well” (McKenna & Robinson, 2009, p. 187).

Therefore, as students get more practice modeling real world periodic phenomenon, then

less time will be needed to provide direct instruction for modeling trigonometric

functions.

The homework assessment has a similar organization as the modeled example and

the research guide from class, so the students should be familiar with the necessary steps

and the periodic characteristics they need to find. The handout summarizes the low and

high water temperatures for our city, which should also build their interest since it

involves a real world application that the students can relate to. The students will have to

utilize their literacy skills to comprehend the summary of the situation and find the

necessary periodic characteristics. The homework handout has the periodic characteristics

listed out for the students to fill-in. Then, they will graph and write the formula that

models the periodic phenomenon. The organization of the homework assessment will

optimize student reading and writing strategies because they can follow similar steps as

we did in class.

homework assessment begins on the next page.

MODELING WITH TRIGONOMETRY LESSON Name: 4
Period:

Modeling Carlsbad Water Temperature Date:

Situation: The water temperature at Carlsbad State Beach varies

periodically such that the water temperatures are lowest at 59 degrees Fahrenheit in
January and highest at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in July, and again the temperatures reach a
low at 59 degrees Fahrenheit next January.

Fill-in the periodic characteristics, graph, and come up with a model of temperature
(T) versus month (x) such that January is x=0. Refer to your vocabulary organizer, the
Ferris Wheel example earlier, and your research guide for extra help. Make sure to label
and scale your axes!

Minimum:

Maximum:

Midline:

Amplitude:

Period:

Phase shift:

Starting point:

Function Model:______________________________________
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References

McKenna, M. and Robinson, R. (2009). Teaching through text: Reading and writing in

the content areas. Boston: Pearson.

National Govenors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School

Officers. (2010). Common Core State Standards Mathematics. Retrieved from

http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Content/HSG/GPE/