Ideas to make a linear and quadratic equation unit POP!!!

[Geoffrey Myers]

Hello all who are interested or willing to help,

My name is Geoffrey Myers; I am currently a senior at Aurora University.  I am working on a three to four week unit plan that will cover how to factor and solve quadratic
and linear equations.  Additionally, this unit needs to
include differentiated instruction and assessment, literacy skills,
and be aligned to educational standards.  I am planning this
unit for a high school Algebra II classroom.

When the unit is complete, I would like my students to be able to:

• Distinguish between a linear and quadratic equation/expression
• Calculate the y-intercept of a linear and quadratic equation/expression
• Calculate/find the x-intercepts of a quadratic equation
• Calculate/find the x-intercept of a linear equation
• Use technology to solve/graph linear and quadratic equations
• Convert between different forms of linear equations
• Write an algebraic proof of their solution to a linear equation

The resources I have found so far include:

• Factoring with Mr. Yang and Mosley the Alien
• National Library of Virtual Manipulative
• Algebra Tiles
• Algebra Balance Scales – Negatives
• Grapher
• Point Plotter
• Link to my eNLVM classroom (unsure if it will be fully functional)

Any help or pointers you have would be greatly appreciated.