Who Will Get There First? Using the Rate Time and Distance Formula

This has been my favorite lesson of the year so far. I gave it to my Intro to Algebra Students during the Solving Equations unit. It just uses the simple rate*time=distance formula. The students have a lot of choices for the project. It took them 2-3 class days. The most important part of the project was explaining what the variable represented. You can see from the student examples below that they did not all do it correctly. However, overall I really was pleased with the engagement level and the end product. (See student examples below) I have given the directions to the project below as well.  
Positives: Student Choice, Engagement Level, Problem Solving Skills, Messy Numbers, Differentiated learning, Real World problem, Outrageous, 

To Work On: Find a way to access at the halfway point of the project. Some students don't get on track early enough.

Who Will Get There First?
You get to chose a destination.  You and a friend are going to race to a destination.  Your friend gets the faster transportation choice.   You get a 6 day head start.  Do all the calculations and see who will get there first.  

Here are your modes of transportation choices.

Bike:  3.5 miles per hour average*

Scooter:  1.1 miles per hour average*

Skateboard:  1.3 miles per hour average*

Walk:  .9 miles per hour average*

Pogo Stick:  .5 miles per hour average*

Big Big Wheel:  2 miles per hour average*

Roller Blades:  2.5 miles per hour average*

Run:  1.8 miles per hour average*

*All average speeds are accounting for sleep and eating.

You may pick your own mode of transportation, but you must get it approved first.  It may not be motorized.

                     

Destination Restrictions:  Between 500-1000 miles away from here.  Pick a city.    

Equation 1:  You must have a variable in your equation to figure out how much time it will take you to get to your destination.  

Equation 2:  You must have a variable in your equation to figure out how much time it will take your friend to get to your destination.

Conclusion:  You must justify who arrived first and by how much time.  Your answer MUST BE GIVEN IN DAYS and HOURS, not just hours.  

You must give your results in a video link or digital document link with all information given.

Padlet, Google Document, Video, Presentation

Rubric

Chosen City with mileage by 10 minutes in.  5 points

Equation 1.  5 points

Equation 2.  5 points

Conclusion:   5 points

Resources:

https://padlet.com/

https://awwapp.com/  

https://sketch.io/sketchpad/

HERE ARE THE STUDENT RESULTS

Created with Padlet

DOC and the Magic Straw: A Story about the Benefits of Collaboration

This is a very short story about DOC who is the inventor of a magic straw.  The story carries symbolism to show how easy it is to share your work with others and also have them contribute with you.  

SYMBOLISM

DOC is named after GOOGLE Doc 

MAGIC STRAW:  The link that is created when you share a Google Document in VIEW mode.

MAGIC PEN:  The link that is created when you share a Google Document in EDIT mode.


I use Google Docs almost every day.  I love the ease of use.  If you haven't used a Google Doc, please take the time to try it out.  Most of all I love Google Docs because you never have to click on SAVE again.  So give it a try, and create a Google Doc and then SHARE your document for all to see.  Directions on how to share are below.


GOOGLE SHARING DIRECTIONS
Here are some directions for sharing a link for a document.  This is directly from  a Google Help Page on Sharing


1.  Sign in to Google Drive or a Docs, Sheets, or Slides home screen.
2.  Open the file you want to get a link for.
3.  Click Share for files or the share icon for folders in the top-right corner of the screen .
4.  Click Get shareable link in the top-right corner of the sharing box. A link to the file will be copied to your clipboard.
5.  Paste the link into an email or chat to share it.
6.  To stop allowing people to access the file using the link, open the sharing box > click the dropdown menu below "Link sharing on" > choose OFF > click Done.
7.  By default, the link you share will be view only for others. To allow people with the link to comment on or edit the file, click the dropdown menu under "Link sharing on" and change the setting from "People with the link can view" to "People with the link can comment (or can edit)".
8.  To allow anyone to be able to open the file or folder using the link, make sure to change your sharing settings to “Anyone with the link” or “Public on the web”. Click Change… when you’re in the sharing box to change this setting.