The Algebra 1 course is equivalent to a first-year algebra course and is designed to introduce students to a variety of algebraic topics aligned to the Common Core State Standards. In this standard-level course, students are expected to spend approximately 6-8 hours per week on their course work.
In this course, students will focus on four critical areas:
(1) Deepen understanding of linear and exponential relationships
(2) Contrast linear, exponential, and quadratic relationships through a variety of methods
(3) Extend laws of exponents to square and cube roots
(4) Apply linear models to data that exhibit a linear trend
Students will investigate topics such as quantities and modeling, understanding functions, linear functions, equations, and inequalities, statistical models, linear systems and piecewise-defined functions, exponential relationships, polynomial operations, quadratic functions, quadratic equations and modeling, and inverse relationships.
This course incorporates a variety of textbook and multimedia resources including an adaptive problem set platform that provides various feedback on student assessments. Students will also engage in collaborative activities, such as simulations and discussions, and connect concepts in algebra to real-world applications, in order to develop a deeper understanding of algebra in the world.
Course Essential Questions:
- How can we distinguish linear and exponential relationships?
- How can we identify quadratic relationships?
- How can we expand the application of the laws of exponents?
- How can we apply linear models to data?
Course Objectives:
- Identify relationships between quantities within the real number system.
- Interpret the structure of numerical and algebraic expressions.
- Perform operations on expressions and write equivalent forms to solve problems.
- Create equations to describe relationships.
- Reason with equations and inequalities.
- Interpret and build functions using proper function notation.
- Construct, compare, and interpret linear, exponential, and quadratic models.
- Interpret categorical and quantitative data.