Parks and Recreation in Los Angeles: Slopes in a Park

We can use multiple features of a park in order to teach students the concepts behind slope and eventually the equation of a line.

Teeter Totter- We can use a tape measure and a teeter totter in order to find slope and the equation of the line that is the teeter totter. Using the middle stump that is the base of the teeter totter as the origin of the coordinate plane and a tape measure to find the different points that creates the line that is the teeter totter an equation of the line that is the teeter totter can be created.  I would recommend using feet as the measure used for this exercise but that is up to the teacher's discretion.  The students should be able to answer the following questions. 

1. What is the slope of the teeter totter?
2. What is the equation of the line that is the teeter totter?
3. If the teeter totter was 50 feet longer how high would the teeter totter be?

Swing-  Using the same methods above students should be able to find the slope of a swing.  The origin of the coordinate plane should be when the swing is at rest.  The swing should then be rocked back and held by the student and measured to find a new point.  The slope should then be calculated as well as the equation of the line that is created between the origin and the point that the swing is being held at.  The students should be able to answer the following questions.

1.  What is the equation of the line of the swings path?
2.  What is the slope of the line of the swings path?
3.  What might change the equation and slope of the line of the swings path?

Slide-  The slope and equation of the line that is a slide can be found by students.  Using the base of the slide (where the slide hits the ground) as origin students can measure another point on the slide and calculate the slope of the slide and the equation of a line that is the slide.  Students should be able to answer the following questions.

1. What is the equation of the line of the slide?
2. What is the slope of the slide?
3. If the slide was extended 20 feet how high would the slide be?