Conic Sections
Crime Investigation
Conic sections are not a huge part of our specific Algebra 2 Honors curriculum. We usually lump circles and parabolas (with focus and directrix) in with our irrational functions unit. We rely on the following course in our sequence, Trigonometry/Math Analysis Honors, to cover those ideas.
However, to introduce the idea to our students, we decided to do a brief, one-day activity about all of the conic sections. I stumbled upon this activity on TeachersPayTeachers. (Yes, I paid for it, and no I am not linking it here for free. Go get it from TPT!) The task itself is already interesting and funny, but I wanted to add more components that would encourage students to really collaborate with each other!
I, myself, have only participated in one Escape Room with friends, but I love the idea of making my classroom into one, or at least creating the need to think creatively and solve puzzles that are, or maybe aren't, related to the content 100%. I will warn you that the process of making this activity took me a long time, and the set up is very time consuming as well. I will link my clues and materials below so that at least the creation process might be quicker for you.
I had a lot of fun rearranging my classroom and even decorating my door a bit (see above). I found this CAUTION tape at Wal-mart. I simply taped a strip to the outside of my door, as well as on or around places in the classroom that no students should access (i.e. my desk area, the computer wires, etc.) I also put black paper on my window so no one could see in or out, to create the illusion that it was top-secret.
