Mastering linear and nonlinear functions can be challenging for students, but it doesn’t have to be boring! We’ve compiled a list of 19 engaging activities that will help your students develop problem-solving skills and expand their mathematical horizons. From linear mapping models to accurate models for real-world phenomena, these activities will challenge your students to think critically and creatively. So, allow us to help you make learning fun!
1. Task Cards
These task cards are a fantastic way to engage students and help them master identifying linear functions. With various problems covering different skill levels, these cards provide a fun and interactive learning experience for students of all ages.
Learn More: Bright In The Middle
2. Card Sorting
This Card Sorting activity is an engaging and interactive way to help your students understand the difference between linear and nonlinear functions. With a set of cards to sort and classify, students will be challenged to think critically and apply their knowledge of math concepts.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
3. Tic Tac Toe
This activity combines Tic-Tac-Toe with coordinate graphing to teach students about graphing and ordered pairs. The objective is to record ordered pairs and get four in a row to win, and this activity offers various choices of mapping models for building models.
Learn More: Collected NY
4. Dino Crunch
Dino Crunch is an eighth-grade math game to help students identify linear functions. It occurs on a prehistoric battlefield and challenges learners to differentiate between linear and nonlinear graphs and equations. This fun and interactive game is a great way to reinforce algebraic concepts and improve students’ understanding of linear functions.
Learn More: Education
5. Hold The Line
Hold the Line… or Don’t is an engaging and interactive math lesson for 8th-9th graders studying Algebra 1 or Pre-Algebra. The class focuses on the concepts of linear and nonlinear functions and how they can be represented through tables, graphs, and equations.
Learn More: University of Oklahoma
6. Flippables
Flippables are interactive notebooks that can help students learn about linear and nonlinear functions. They consist of a foldable graphic organizer with information on one side and interactive activities on the other. Using them, students can engage in hands-on learning and explore critical concepts visually and interactively.
Learn More: Scaffolded Math
7. Bamboozle
Bamboozle is an online game that teaches students about functions and linear and nonlinear relationships through interactive quiz questions. Students will be challenged to identify linear and nonlinear functions, interpret graphs, and solve real-world problems involving functions.
Learn More: Baamboozle
8. Online Math Games and Simulators
The online math game and simulator series teaches students to interpret slope-intercept form as a definition of linear functions and distinguish them from nonlinear functions. The games cover exponents and varying slopes and are designed to improve engagement and academic performance.
Learn More: Legends of Learning
9. Boom Cards
Digital boom cards linear vs. nonlinear functions is an engaging and auto-graded assessment activity with 30 task cards to test your 8th-grade students’ mastery of solving multi-step, one-variable linear equations.
Learn More: Boom Learning
10. Jeopardy
Jeopardy is an exciting game-based activity for students to learn about linear functions. It covers critical concepts such as slope-intercept form, graphing linear functions, finding slope and y-intercept, and solving linear equations. Students can play as individuals or in teams; making it a fun and interactive way to learn.
Learn More: Super Teacher Tools
11. Escape Room
This Escape room is full of 4 exciting puzzles covering topics like defining linear functions and writing equations in slope intercept form. Your students will have a blast working in teams of 2-5 to solve the challenges and escape the room.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
12. Puzzles
Put your students’ algebra skills to the test with this engaging puzzle activity! Designed to help students practice solving linear equations, this activity challenges them to match 21 questions and answers on puzzle pieces to create a given shape.
Learn More: Math Teachers Resources
13. Othello
This educational activity is designed to help students practice identifying and solving linear and nonlinear equations. Based on the classic board game Othello, this activity challenges students to place pieces on the board based on whether the corresponding equation is linear or nonlinear.
Learn More: University of Pittsburg
14. Function Machines
Function machine activities are a fun way to teach students about linear and non-linear functions. It’s an interactive activity where students have to input a number into a “machine” that performs a function on it and then outputs a new number.
Learn More: Minnesota STEM Teaching Center
15. Slope Art
This slope art linear equations project is a fun and creative way for students to practice graphing linear equations and understanding slopes. In this activity, students choose a design or image and use it to create a coordinate grid with multiple linear equations that graphically represent their chosen design.
Learn More: Pinterest
16. Guess Who
Guess who linear functions is a game where players guess the identity of a mystery linear function by asking yes or no questions about its rate of change and initial value. The goal is to determine the function’s identity using information from tables of values, graphs, or verbal descriptions.
Learn More: I Is A Number
17. Crack The Code
Get your 8th-grade students excited about functions with this Fourth of July crack-the-code activity! Students will analyze function tables to identify if they are linear or nonlinear and then use their findings to crack a secret code and reveal a special message.
Learn More: Twinkl
18. Bingo
Get ready to shout “BINGO” while learning about functions! Explore the world of linear and nonlinear functions with this exciting game that will have your students on the edge of their seats
Learn More: Pinterest
19. Traveling With Linear Equations
This travel activity is a great way to make math more fun and applicable for students. Using frequent flyer miles as a basis for learning about linear equations, students can choose the airline they want to use, the dates they want to fly, and where they want to travel.
Learn More: Algebra and Beyond
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