Describing Travel Graphs
| Grade | Work Samples |
|---|---|
| End of Stage 5 (end of Year 10) | |
| Grade A | Bailey(A9) |
| Grade D | Lindsay(D3) |
Description of activity
For each of the six travel graphs, students will be asked to write a brief description of the journey that the graph might represent.
Students will complete the accompanying worksheet.
Context
Patterns and Algebra, Working Mathematically
This assessment activity could be presented to students during, or at the end of, a unit on Graphs of Physical Phenomena, where students have been drawing and interpreting a variety of travel graphs, as well as providing descriptions of the meanings of different gradients for graphs of particular events.
Areas for Assessment
- Working mathematically
Knowledge, skills and understanding developed through inquiry, application of problem-solving strategies, communication, reasoning and reflection - Patterns and algebra
Knowledge, skills and understanding in patterning, generalisation and algebraic reasoning
Outcomes
Graphs of Physical Phenomena (PAS5.2.5)
Draws and interprets graphs of physical phenomena
Applying Strategies (WMS5.2.2)
Selects and uses appropriate problem-solving strategies that include selecting and organising key information and identifying and working on related problems
Communicating (WMS5.2.3)
Uses appropriate mathematical language and algebraic, statistical and other notations and conventions in written, oral or graphical form
Reasoning (WMS5.2.4)
Uses mathematical arguments to reach and justify conclusions
Criteria for assessing learning
(These criteria would normally be communicated to students with the activity.)
Students will be assessed on their ability to:
- describe journeys represented in travel graphs
- use mathematical terminology
Possible prompts to assist student engagement
- Where does the graph begin? What does this mean?
- Consider some specific examples.
- Can you explain why you think the graph has that shape?
- How would you describe the slope of the line? What does this mean?
- What occurs when the graph changes slope? How would you describe this in terms of a journey?
- Is it possible to be in two places at the same time? Does this occur in any of the graphs?
Suggested materials
Worksheet, pen and paper