Activity 1 - Teacher Guidelines
Objective of Activity
Materials Needed:
Anticipated Student Reactions
Questions to pose to students after watching the video
- Students should be able to define focus, directrix, and parabola.
- Students should develop a general idea of how the distance from the focus to a point on the parabola is always the same as the shortest distance from the same point on the parabola to the directrix.
Materials Needed:
- Needed by students: Students will need access to internet, the handout (which provides the link to the video), and a pencil to take notes with
- Needed by teacher: Copies of the handout to give to the students, internet access (to answer questions about the video in class the following day)
Anticipated Student Reactions
- Most students should follow along with the video fairly easily. Some may have difficulties understanding why the line perpendicular to the directrix runs through a point that isn't the focus. Others may not remember the definition of a perpendicular bisector. Teachers should be prepared to address both of these topics.
Questions to pose to students after watching the video
- Can you define the focus and directrix as it relates to a parabola?
- What is the definition of a parabola?
- Can a parabola only open up and down?