Fun Lessons

Introduction to Quadratics: Discovering Parabolas in the Real World

In this introductory lesson on quadratics, students explored how mathematical concepts emerge naturally in everyday life. Working in pairs, they brainstormed real-world situations where they might encounter parabolic shapes—such as basketball arcs, suspension bridges, satellite dishes, or fountains—and identified key characteristics of each parabola, including the vertex, axis of symmetry, direction of opening, and intercepts.

 

Building on their curiosity, students then used Desmos to manipulate quadratic functions and visually connect the algebraic form to the graph’s features. Through this hands-on investigation, they observed how changes in the coefficients of y=ax^2+bx+c affect the shape and position of the parabola. This process helped students move from intuitive recognition to conceptual understanding, laying the groundwork for deeper exploration of quadratic equations, factoring, and graphing in future lessons.

 

This lesson exemplifies my commitment to inquiry-based and discovery-oriented teaching, where students construct meaning through exploration, collaboration, and real-world connections.