Controlling motion - A Cornerstone Maths investigation of linear functions

Controlling Motion uses Cornerstone Maths’ dynamic interactive web-based environment to give Key Stage 3 pupils an introduction to the ‘hard to teach’ concept of linear functions.

The resource enables pupils to explore the important relationships between animated objects, graphs, tables of values and linear functions. By working through the activities in the resource pupils can learn to model position (y) against time (x) using y = mx + c.

The pupil tasks and publications featured here have been taken from a series of 10 investigations that were developed by the UCL London Knowledge Lab with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering and its national STEM teacher network.

TEACHER’S NOTES
This publication provides guidance for teachers about how to use the resource and the requirements for each task.

VIDEO WALKTHROUGH
Download the short video walkthrough of Activity 3.3 for guidance about how to use the features of the software.

TASK A
This task can be completed without accessing the Cornerstone Maths software.

TASKS D, E AND F
These tasks require access to the Cornerstone Maths software. A demo version of the software for these activities is included with this group of resources for download. It can also be accessed via the link above.

Please note: Cornerstone Maths software works best in the Google Chrome browser on tablet, PCs and desktops.

MORE ABOUT CORNERSTONE MATHS
Cornerstone Mathematics integrates ICT into mathematics lessons to present key mathematical ideas using dynamic representations and simulations. Cornerstone Mathematics is intended for use by pupils in Key Stage 3, and is aligned with the latest National Curriculum. Current units address hard-to-grasp concepts in linear functions, geometric similarity and algebraic patterns and expressions. The resources have been developed by a team at UCL Institute of Education in collaboration with colleagues at Stanford Research Institute International, California - and they have been robustly researched to prove their impact on students’ learning.

The Cornerstone Maths software is hosted by London Grid for Learning - and therefore is free to access for all LGfL schools or those on TrustNet. For all other schools access to the complete set of resources can be provided for an annual cost.