Lesson 8

Interpreting and Drawing Graphs for Situations

These materials, when encountered before Algebra 1, Unit 4, Lesson 8 support success in that lesson.

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Lesson Narrative

In this lesson, students practice interpreting graphs in situations by first selecting graphs that best fit situations and then drawing their own plausible graphs for a described situation. In the associated Algebra 1 lesson, students do similar tasks but must pay attention to different aspects such as functions that are not strictly linear and pay attention to where the graphs are increasing and decreasing on average.

When students interpret and draw graphs that fit situations, they are reasoning abstractly and quantitatively (MP2). To select the appropriate graph for a situation, students must also construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others (MP3).


Learning Goals

Teacher Facing

  • Interpret graphs of functions in situations to select the best option for a scenario.
  • Sketch graphs of functions that could represent given descriptions.

Student Facing

  • Let’s make sense of graphs and scenarios.

CCSS Standards

Building Towards

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