GSP and the Derivative of the Sine Function

April 1, 2013April 1, 2013 by Jon Orr

Today in MCV4U we will investigate the derivative of the Sine and Cosine functions. First, download the and save it to the camera roll. Open the image in the app Explain Everything. Follow the steps below.

Try graphing the derivative of y=sinx.
First plot the points where their is a horizontal tangent.
Then consider where the tangent would
be positive or negative.

Next, download the GSP file and open it in Sketchpad Explorer. On the “Graph Sin’ ” page drag the point back and forth which will plot the points corresponding to the slope of the tangent.

Exit book, feedback, and performance walls

March 28, 2013March 28, 2013 by Jon Orr

This activity ties descriptive feedback, exit cards, and performance walls all together. Instead of doing an exit card at the end of every lesson students make a book to do the exit questions in. At the end of the lesson they complete the exit question in their book and leave it behind for assessment and feedback by me. While marking the questions I pick out a typical level 4 response, take a picture of it, print it out and display it on the performance wall. Students can view the wall during the unit to see “good” answers. Also, they will have a collection of typical test questions in their exit book to study from.