Lesson

     A lesson that I have recently done with my Algebra classes does not deal with Geometry, but it did use Geometer's Sketchpad.  We are working with Quadratic Functions and right after the students learned how to graph them I took them to the computer lab and they used Geometer's Sketchpad to look at the graphs of quadratic functions.  They graphed five or six graphs on the same graph and looked to see what the a, b, and c-values of the equation had on the graph.  They were able to determine that the a-value told them if the graph opened up or down and also how wide the parabola was. The b-value told them if the graph was shifted left or right. Finally the c-value told them where the graph crosses the y-axis.  When we were finished my students were able to print off their graphs and put them in their binder.