Broncs are... Broncs Value... Broncs Have...

I like to use half- sheets of 8.5X11 grid paper.

It's usually large enough to fit one word.  (When it's not, then the kids add another paper, or part of another paper to the end.)


The student draws his or her name on the paper.  Then he or she calculates the midpoint of each segment.
The student draws a (pre-approved) word on the paper.  Then he or she calculates the slope of each segment.
The student draws a (pre-approved) word on the paper.  Then he or she calculates the distance of each segment.
The student draws a (pre-approved) word on the paper in block letters.  Then he or she calculates the perimeter and area of each composite figure.




The pre-approved word usually has a theme.  
This time the theme was positive characteristics.

I made a sign for each category.  They said:
Broncs are...
Broncs Value...
Broncs Have...


then I split up the words so they would sound correct grammatically.

I used purple for the backgrounds of my signs because it's one of our school colors.


For this to work, the kids had to follow these guidelines:
*Every letter must have only straight line segments.  No curves!
*Every segment must have a slope that is not zero or undefined.  (No horizontal or vertical lines.)
*Every word must be drawn in something other than pencil.


**Generally, this activity is easier to do with all-capital letters.
**Sometimes letters can be a little tricky to make w/o vertical or horizontal lines.  These can be done by placing the letters at an angle and/or drawing them 'artistically.'

For these projects, the kids have to show work.  
That work must include calculations with the ordered pairs.  (That is the entire point of this project.)  
It has to be organized!

I tried to come up with several, various, long words.  If the kids come up with an alternative, they can use it as long as I approve of it.  I usually go for at least 6 or 7 letters:
For the Characteristics Activity, the list I gave them was:

	ACCURATE		CHARACTER		CREDIBLE		ENDURANCE
	ATTENTIVE		CIVILITY		DARING		ETHICAL
	AUTHENTIC		COURAGE		DECORUM		ETIQUETTE
	BRAVERY		COURTESY		DIGNITY		FAITHFUL
					DISCIPLINE		GENUINE
		GOODNESS
				KINDNESS		RIGHTEOUS
		GRACIOUS
				OBJECTIVE		SINCERE
		HONESTY
				PATIENT		STAMINA
		HONORABLE
				PERSEVERE		TOLERANT
		INTEGRITY
				POLITENESS		VIRTUOUS

I would put Sincere, Credible, or Accurate
 in the Broncs are...  category
I would put Kindness
in the Broncs Value...  category

I could put
Integrity or Decorum
in both the Broncs Have... or Broncs Value...  categories

with several repeat words, that was a good way to decorate



Check out my Thankful Activity.  It's similar, but this time they calculate distance.
Check out my Name Activity.  It's similar, but this time they calculate midpoints.