Grade Levels: 11th-12th

Unit Title: Vectors

Subject/Topic Areas: Pre-Calculus

Key Words: Vector, Initial Point, Terminal Point, Direction, Magnitude, Components, Unit
Vector, Dot Product, and Scalar

Designed by: Ashley Quinn

Brief Summary of Unit

After studying a unit on matrices, students will recognize vectors and their representations.
Students will analyze vectors, their properties, and performing operations on vectors (N.VM. 1,
2, 3, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, and 5b). Following this unit students will be using the understanding of
vectors and matrices to solve multi-dimensional problems.

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

Established goals:
Students will represent a given vector quantity by drawing directed line segments without error.
Given a vector, students will be able to correctly write the symbols for vectors and their
magnitudes. The students will correctly demonstrate how to find a given vectors components.
Given two vectors, students will be able to correctly perform addition and subtraction. Students
will be able to correctly calculate multiplication between a given vector and its scalar. Given a
scalar multiple of a vector, students will be able to correctly compute the magnitude. When
students are given two vectors they will be able to correctly compute the dot product.

What understandings are desired?

Students will understand:

What vectors are and how to represent them geometrically and in the coordinate plane
The appropriate symbols used for vectors and magnitudes
How to find the components of a vector
How to perform addition and subtraction between vectors
How to multiply a vector by a scalar
How to compute the magnitude of a scalar multiple
How to compute the dot product

What essential questions will be considered?

How does the math I am learning in the classroom relate to the real world?
How do I decide which is the best mathematical tool to use to solve a problem?
How to I use the language of math to make sense of/solve a problem?
How can two-dimensional vectors be used to represent something in multiple
dimensions?

What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit?
Students will know...

Students will be able to...

What vectors are

The mathematical symbols used with
vectors
What magnitude represents
What a vectors components are
What a scalar is and how it relates to
vectors
What the dot product represents

Draw vectors in the coordinate and

geometric plane
Find components of vectors
Add and subtract vectors
Multiply a vector by a scalar
Compute magnitude
Compute dot product

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence

What evidence will show that students understand?

Group discussions that will cover the representations of vectors, their differences, and
their uses. Students will write answers on one piece of paper and then one person from
each group will share the groups findings.
Completions of vocabulary word definitions in their own words, in which they will
develop a brochure to help a younger student understand the vocabulary
A set of chapter summaries, in their own words, to be completed throughout the unit.
Hands on activity in which students use their knowledge of vectors and the calculations
they can perform on vectors to navigate a ship.

Other evidence (quizzes, tests, prompts, observations, dialogues, work samples):

Homework problems that will be assigned after each lesson

Quiz after each section of the unit
Worksheets for each lesson
Initial chapter summaries

Student self-assessment and reflection:

Exit tickets in which students rate their understanding on a scale from 1-10
A notebook in which students log anything that they are struggling with and why.
After each quiz students will reflect on their incorrect answers and explain why they
made the mistakes that they did.

Stage 3: Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction

Consider the WHERETO elements.

Pretest that will have students indicate whether they know the key terms or
not

Brainstorm and use the results of the pre-test to map out the unit on the
board for students to see. Add to the map through class discussion and
have all students write down the map in their notebooks. Connect the
material to real world applications and have students reflect.

H, Eq,
E, O

Students will pre-read each chapter and write a short paragraph in which
they make predictions about the content of that days lesson. These will be
turned in and given back to the students with feedback.

Eq, H,
E

Students will take notes as the teacher defines, explains, and gives
examples of the key concepts for each lesson.

Eq

In groups, students will review the chapter on what vectors are and how
they are represented. They will have key questions to answer based on the
reading.

Eq

Class will be divided into groups, based on readiness. Half of the groups
will be focusing on vectors in the coordinate plane (which is less abstract)
and the other groups will be focusing on vectors in the geometric plane
(more abstract). Once each group is an expert on their plane they will teach
another group about the plane they studied.

T, Eq

Students will use a graphic organizer to show how vectors are related to
magnitude, components, scalars, and the dot product.

O, Eq

Students will keep a log of vocabulary words, and at the end of the unit
they will turn the words into a brochure for younger students.

E, T

Students will engage in a relay race where each group must run down and
pick up a vector, plus sign, minus sign, or equals sign. Once they have all
the pieces, the groups will arrange the pieces to make equations of adding
and/or subtracting vectors. There is only one way that this will work.

Eq, E

Supplemental video will be shown on multiplying a vector by a scalar

(Khan Academy), to ensure understanding and to give students another
way of talking about and thinking about vectors.

Eq, T,
R

Students will use Khan Academy to do a short scalar multiplication

Eq, E

practice.

In pairs, students will review the chapter on the dot product. As a pair, the
students must come up with a real world application for the dot product
and then try to sell this idea to the rest of the class. The class will vote at
the end for which pair best sold them their real world application.

W, Eq,
R, E

Students will reflect on the unit as a whole and decide on what types of
real world applications for vectors are out there. They will pick one and
write a short (1 page) paper on this application and why it is important to
society.

W, R, E

Students will use the feedback from their chapter predictions to write a
summary for each chapter of the unit.

Students will participate in an activity in which they use all of the

knowledge and tools learned throughout the unit to navigate a ship through
a sea using only vector mathematics.

R, E
W