The Importance of Math In Sports

Introduction

Ms. Bright's 9th Grade Algebra Class Project:

Believe it or not, sports revolve around math! Think about all the different speeds of bats, balls, and runners, think about the angle play involved in sports, and all the forces applied when playing a sport. Understanding the math involved in your sport can really improve your game. In this webquest, you will become a math expert in your sport of choice!

Task

I know you all are competitive! You don't want any of your friends beating you in your favorite sport! So pick your favorite sport and find a minimum of three ways that math is used in it. For each way, list how it affects your sport and how you as a player could improve or have an advantage by understanding it. Create a powerpoint to display your findings and include a video clip of that particular part or aspect of the game/sport. (You should be able to describe the math involved while watching the video.) Additionally, create a math problem for each way and during your presentation, your classmates will attempt to solve each problem.

Process

Step 1:

Pick a sport.

Step 2:

Determine atleast three ways math is used in your chosen sport.

Step 3:

Once you have found at least three ways math is used in your sport complete the following for each way:

-explain how it affects your sport/changes the game

-explain how as a player you could improve/change your game by understanding this mathematical aspect of the sport

-write an equation, word problem, or any kind of math problem that coorelates with the math used in the sport

-find a video clip or record one yourself demonstrating the part of the sport that your math affects (ex: angle of a shot, hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball, etc.)

Step 4:

Create a powerpoint containing all of your information from step 3.

Step 5:

Present to class on assigned presentation day.

Evaluation

The Importance of Math In Sports

      Teacher Name: 

Ms. Bright

       




    Student Name:     ________________________________________



CATEGORY 20 13 6 0 Value
Content Student found 3+ ways math is used in their chosen sport and completed the steps assigned for each way. Student found 2 ways math is used in their chosen sport and completed the steps assigned for each. Student found 1 way math is used in their chosen sport and completed the steps assigned for each. Student did not complete the project.  
Explanations Student thoroughly explained each step, their descriptions were clear, easy to understand, and made sense. Student explanations were acceptable, although their descriptions were not completely clear. Student explanations were not clear and did not make sense. Student did not have any explanations.  
Math Used Student used 3+ math problems, they made sense and found the correct answer for each. Problem also correlated with the chosen aspect of sport. Student only completed 2 math problems with correct answers. Problems correlated with the chosen aspect of sport. Student only completed 1 math problems with a correct answer. Problem correlated with the chosen aspect of sport. None of the students math problems were correct or correlated with the sport.  
Powerpoint Student made a very organized powerpoint containing all information. Student made an acceptable powerpoint with most of the information. Student's powerpoint was not organized and was missing a lot of information. Student did not create a powerpoint.  
Presentation Student was very well prepared for their presentation. Student was overall prepared but the presentation was a bit disorganized. Student was not prepared for their presentation. Student did not present.  
Total Points          
Conclusion

Don't be a dumb jock! Next time you play the sport you chose, you'll have an advantage! Don't forget what you learned and take it to the field, court, track or where ever you play. Good luck in your next game!

Credits

Webquest created at: http://createwebquest.org/

Rubric created at: http://rubistar.4teachers.org

All images: google images

Teacher Page

Created by: Ms. Bright

9th grade algebra project