Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, I chose the third chapter of mathematics for the 8th grader of Junior High School which is about Straight Line Equation. I chose this chapter because I was working with Algebra in the previous task. And this chapter, obviously, is one of the applications of algebraic concept.
For this chapter, students are supposed to be able:
 To recognize the equations of straight lines in various forms and variables,
 To make a table of ordered pairs,
 To draw the graph in Bartesian coordinates,
 To draw a line in Cartesian coordinates,
 To identify the line drawn in Cartesian coordinates dealing with its equation,
 To understand the meaning of a slope,
 To determine the slope of a straight-line equation in various forms,
 To determine the slope of a linewhich runs through two known points,
 To determine the slope of parallel lines,
 To determine the slope of two lines perpendicular to each other,
 To determine the coordinate of an interception of two lines,
 To determine the slope of a line by counting units,
 To graph a line if the slopeand a point on it are known,
 To determine the equation of a lineif its slope and intercept point with Y axis are known,
 To determine the equation of a line if the slope and coordinates of a point on it are known,
 To determine the equation of a line if the coordinates of two points on it are known,
 To determine the conditions for two parallel, intersecting, and coinciding lines,
 To determine the equation of a line parallel with line / and passing through point P(x,y),
 To determine the equation of a line perpendicular to line / and passing through point P(x,y).
Before going any further to the material, I would like to introduce my students first to the history of algebra. It doesn’t really matter that they have learned algebra in the 7th grade because I’m pretty sure that the previous teacher had not told them about the history of algebra. So, I’ll start it over.
First of all, I will tell them what algebra is. Algebra is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of structure, relation, and quantity. Elementary algebra is the branch that deals with solving for the operands of arithmetic equations where as modern or abstract algebra has its origins as an abstraction of elementary algebra. Some historians believe that the earliest mathematical research was done by the priest classes of ancient civilizations, such as the Babylonians, to go along with religious rituals. The origins of algebra can thus be traced back to ancient Babylonian mathematicians roughly four thousand years ago.
The word Algebra is derived from the Arabic word Al-Jabr, and this comes from the treatise written in 820 by the muslim Persian mathematician, Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, entitled, in Arabic, كتاب الجبر والمقابلة or Kitāb al-muḫtaṣar fī ḥisāb al-ğabr wa-l-muqābala, which can be translated as The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing. The treatise provided for the systematic solution of linear and quadratic equations. Although the exact meaning of the word al-jabr is still unknown, most historians agree that the word meant something like "restoration", "completion", "reuniter of broken bones" or "bonesetter." The term is used by al-Khwarizmi to describe the operations that he introduced, "reduction" and "balancing", referring to the transposition of subtracted terms to the other side of an equation, that is, the cancellation of like terms on opposite sides of the equation.
Algebra did not always make use of the symbolism that is now ubiquitous in mathematics; rather, it went through three distinct stages. The stages in the development of symbolic algebra are roughly as follows:
 Rhetorical Algebra, where equations are written in full sentences.
 Syncopated Algebra, where some symbolism is used but which does not contain all of the characteristic of symbolic algebra, and
 Symbolic Algebra, where full symbolism is used.
I will also tell them that algebra firstly developed through four conceptual stages, which are:
 Geometric Stage, where the concepts of algebra are largely geometric,
 Static equation-solving Stage, where the objective is to find numbers satisfying certain relationships,
 Dynamic function stage, where motion is an underlying idea, and
 Abstract stage, where mathematical structure plays a central role.
It would be more interesting if I also tell them the development of algebra, from the beginning which is traced and claimed to be coming from the ancient Babylonia till what the algebra they learn nowadays. The development of algebra can be traced from the Babylonian Algebra, then Egyptian Algebra, after that Greek Geometric Algebra which focused more on the geometry itself, next is Chinese Algebra. The next development can be claimed to be spreaded out over India and islamic countries. Then, algebra was well-known throughout Europe. Besides, there is also one well-known branch of algebra called Diophantine Algebra, which was developed by Diophantus, a Hellenistic mathematician living in circa 250 AD. Diophantus is the first to use symbols for unknown numbers as well as abbreviations for powers of numbers, relationships, and operations; thus he used what is now known as syncopated algebra. The main difference between Diophantine syncopated algebra and modern algebraic notation is that the former lacked special symbols for operations, relations, and exponentials.
Moreover, since this chapter contains of drawing lines in Cartesian coordinates, I will also tell them what Cartesian is. Maybe it will not be too long. I will just tell them that Cartesian is a plane with coordinates found by a French mathematician Rene Descartes. The word Cartesian is derived from his last name, des-cartes. Then that is why the coordinates is called Cartesian coordinates.
After the interesting introduction about the concept they are going to learn, I will then come to the concept. The aim of my introduction about algebra is to stimulate my students’ curiosity dealing with Straight Line Equation. Here, I have designed and constructed some activities used to enhance their understanding about the concept. Here are some activities I have planned:
 Revising concept,
 Interactive exercise,
 Plotting Points,
 Exercising,
 Setting homework,
 Discussing homework,
 Introduction to gradient,
 Test,
 Plotting graphs of straight lines,
 Revision Test, and
 Go over questions test interactively.
Besides the activities I planned, I also prepare several word problems to enhance their understanding about this concept by generalizing problems stated in sentences to the mathematical expressions. Here are some word problems I prepare:
1. Some roads in Puncak have a rise of 7 feet for every 100 horizontal feet. What is the slope of such roads?
2. Construction Building codes regulate the steepness of stairs. Some homes must have steps that are at least 11 inches wide for each 9 inches that they rise.
a. What is the slope of the stairs?
b. Describe how changing the width or the height affects the steepness of the stairs!
3. The Cyclone roller coaster has the steepest first drop of any wooden coaster in the world. It drops about 5 feet for every 3 feet of horizontal change. What is the slope of the first drop?
4. In the 1988 Olympics, the women’s winning long jump was about 24.7 feet. It is predicted that by 2020 the record will be about 26.3 feet. Write the point-slope form of an equation for the line in the graph!
5. Lynda adds Rp5000 to her savings account each week.
a. Write the point-slope form of an equation of the line through the points that represent her savings!
b. Describe a reasonable domain and range for the equation!


The lesson plan above is the best I can think. In my opinion, the lesson plan is adequate to help students in achieving a better progress during their study. Students will not only know how to operate the equation but also know the background of the concept. This plan is supposed to enhance students’ understanding due to the concept.
Eventually, this is the end of the lesson plan. Henceforth, I hope that there will be a feedback for me due to the lesson plan. Thanks a lot...