I’m glad that we teach a standard that shows kids the difference between a linear and a nonlinear function. We really only work with linear functions in 8th grade, but it’s cool for them to understand that there are other types of functions. Also, I love this topic because everyone can get it. This means that you get the opportunity to build confidence in kids while you’re using mathematical words, so they feel like they are doing something advanced. I love introducing this topic through a discovery lab (which you can read about here).
After the topic is introduced, we start with practice. We only spend a couple of days on this topic and we don’t actually get to all of the activities. So, any of the activities we don’t use now can be used throughout the year as cyclical review. There are a variety of activity types on this list. But all of them are interactive and really get kids engaged in what they are learning.
Mini Task Cards
I love task cards because they’re so versatile. These mini task cards are pretty simple but get students just the right amount of practice. This set of 18 task cards includes 6 graphs, 6 equations, and 6 tables. You can use this activity to encourage your students to justify and explain their reasoning as they go. Also, these can be used as examples that you complete with the whole class while students follow along and write their answers on whiteboards.
Linear vs Nonlinear Knockout Game
This Linear vs Nonlinear Knockout Game activity is no prep and provides a great review of this topic. The whole class plays at the same time, you project the game board at the front of the room and each kid writes their own answers to the questions (I use SmartPals for this, but you could use white boards or just paper). They get points if they get the answer right. Every once in a while they will get a bonus that can be good or bad. The kids love this part of the game. This is a relatively quick way to practice and as the teacher you can see what each student is thinking just by using whiteboards, Smartpals, or iPads. If you’re looking for an engaging activity to review linear vs nonlinear functions, this is a perfect activity.
Identifying Linear and Nonlinear Equations Game
This Identifying Linear and Nonlinear Equations Game activity is something students can do individually online. If you want to see how the students are doing, then you can share it through Google Classroom and it shows you their scores. One great feature of this activity is that there’s more than one correct answer on some of the problems. Many of my students need more practice with problems that have multiple correct answers, and this works great for that. This activity can be used as bell ringer or as an exit ticket.
Free Sorting Activity
Sorting activities get kids interacting with the topic in a hands on way. This particular activity serves as a great practice for identifying the features of linear and nonlinear functions. You can download this for free by clicking here.
Grab the Linear vs. Nonlinear Sorting Activity here
To use this sort, all you have to do is print it back to back, cut the cards off, and staple the pocket around the outside and twice in the middle. I made a set of these on cardstock and have re-used them for multiple years now. The activity works as a pocket, or you can have students glue it into their interactive notebook and have their own version there. If they have it in the interactive notebook, then they can refer to it later as a set of examples. I challenge them to glue it down before I show them the answers to show their confidence in their choices. It adds a little positive pressure and fun to the activity.
Linear vs. Nonlinear Function Tic Tac Toe
If you want students to work with a partner and have some interaction with each other as well as the math, then tic tac toe games work great. These Linear vs. Nonlinear Functions Tic Tac Toe game boards include a board with only graphs, one with only tables, and one with only equations and then one of the boards which includes all three forms in one board. It’s a fun partner activity that gets kids talking. Also, this resource includes reference materials you can give to kids to get them talking about math and not just choosing answers.
Free Interactive Notebook Notes
If you’re looking for linear vs. nonlinear notes for your students’ interactive notebooks, check out this post & notes from Math Equals Love. What I really appreciate about these notes is that they have a lot of examples with tables. That’s the most complicated of the three forms for students to determine whether or not a function is linear. You could use these notes in the notebook or as a practice activity. Also, they would work great as an exit ticket. Sometimes you have have to think of how to use something differently than it is was designed for.
Khan Academy Pratice
I don’t use Khan Academy a lot, but there aren’t a lot of resources out there for this topic and this practice activity is easy to use. It has 7 questions for students to answer about if a function is a linear function with equation and graph examples. This could be used as an anticipatory set, a review activity, or a quick check for understanding.
Try one thing…
Helping students identify linear and nonlinear isn’t very difficult, but they still need to practice it. I hope you’ll take one of these activities and use it in your class. Give your kids a few different ways to practice this topic, and it will really be a breeze for them. It will help build a foundation for what functions are and how x is related to y. Thanks so much for reading. Until next time.
