Trackers Slides Graph Trackers
Matching Stories to Motion
Today's Mission
1
Translate Stories into Graphs.
2
Identify where things are Going Up, Going Down, or Staying Still.
Reading the Lines
Increasing
Moving UP from left to right
Decreasing
Moving DOWN from left to right
Constant
Staying FLAT / No change
Distance from Home
Moving Away
Distance is increasing (Line goes UP).
Stopped
Distance is constant (Line is FLAT).
Returning
Distance is decreasing (Line goes DOWN).
Time Distance Away Stop Home
Speed Check
Steep Line
Fast movement
Gradual Line
Slow movement
The steeper the line, the faster the speed!
Investigator Challenge #1
"Leo walks to the park, stays for a while, and then runs home."
A:
Distance increases slowly (Walk)
B:
Distance is constant (Stay)
C:
Distance decreases quickly (Run)
A B C
Investigator Challenge #2
Which story matches this graph?
1
A plane stays at a steady speed, then accelerates (speeds up).
2
A car drives at a constant speed, then hits the brakes and stops.
Time Speed
Tracker Glossary Tracker Glossary
Visual Vocabulary Guide • NC.8.F.5
Use this guide to help identify how a graph is moving. Look at the shape of the line to understand the story.
Increasing
Goes UP from left to right.
Keywords: Climbing, Growing, Speeding up, Moving away.
Decreasing
Goes DOWN from left to right.
Keywords: Dropping, Falling, Losing, Returning.
Constant
A FLAT horizontal line.
Keywords: No change, Staying still, Stopped, Steady.
Nonlinear
A CURVED line.
Keywords: Speeding up/down, Acceleration, Changing rate.
Investigator Tip
Always check the labels on the axes! A "Distance-Time" graph is read differently than a "Speed-Time" graph.
Guided Tracker Lab Guided Tracker Lab
Team Investigation • NC.8.F.5
Name:
1 Interval ID
A B C
Segment A:
Increasing Decreasing Constant
Segment B:
Increasing Decreasing Constant
Segment C:
Increasing Decreasing Constant
2 The Fast Break
"Sarah walks slowly to her mailbox, stays there for a minute to get her mail, and then realizes it's cold and runs back home quickly."
1. Sketch the distance-time graph:
Time Distance
2. Analysis:
Which part is steepest? Why?
What does the flat part show?
3 Think Like the Test
A graph shows a line decreasing at a constant rate. Which story matches this?
A car speeds up to merge onto the highway.
The temperature of soup drops steadily as it sits on the counter.
A child climbs a ladder and stops at the top.
Solo Tracker Missions Solo Tracker Missions
Level: Independent Investigator
Name:
01
The Water Tank
A water tank starts half-full. It is filled at a steady rate for 10 minutes. Then, it stays at that level for 5 minutes. Finally, a plug is pulled and the water drains out rapidly.
Choice A
Choice B
Analyze Your Choice:
02
The Great Escape
"Marcus starts at home. He walks to the store. He stops to buy a snack. Then, he runs home very fast."
Graph Check:
Steady walk (Away)
Stop (Constant)
Fast Run (Home)
Time Distance
A horizontal line on a Distance-Time graph means the object has stopped.
TRUE FALSE
A steep line means something is moving slower than a flat line.
TRUE FALSE
Linear functions always have a constant rate of change.
TRUE FALSE
EOG Tracker Challenge EOG Tracker Challenge
STANDARDS MASTERY: NC.8.F.5
NAME:
Question 1
Which graph represents a functional relationship where the output value decreases at a constant rate?
CHOICE A
CHOICE B
CHOICE C
CHOICE D
Question 2
The graph shows distance from a finish line over time. During which interval is the runner stopped?
Interval I
Interval II
Interval III
I II III
3. Which story matches a graph with a positive, linear interval followed by a constant interval?
A plane climbs at a steady rate, then stays at the same altitude.
A car stays parked, then drives away very fast.
A ball is thrown up and then falls straight down.
A candle burns at a steady rate until it is gone.
Question 4
TIME SPEED
Which statement is TRUE about the graph above?
The object's speed is increasing at a linear rate.
The object is moving at a constant speed.
The speed is decreasing nonlinearly.
5. A bathtub is being filled. The faucet is turned off for 5 minutes, then the drain is opened. Which graph shows the volume of water?
CHOICE A
CHOICE B
CHOICE C
6. If a Distance-Time graph has a horizontal line segment, what is the object doing?
A. Moving at a constant speed
B. Speeding up rapidly
C. Staying at a fixed position
D. Returning to the start
7. Which interval on this graph represents nonlinear growth?
A B C
Choice A: Interval A
Choice B: Interval B
Choice C: Interval C
8. An object is moving toward its starting point. What feature will the Distance-Time graph show?
A. A vertical line
B. A horizontal line
C. Upward slope
D. Downward slope
9. Which description matches a steep line on a Distance-Time graph?
A. Moving slowly
B. Moving quickly
C. No motion
D. Returning home
10. Match the story: "A car slows down steadily until it comes to a complete stop."
CHOICE A
CHOICE B
CHOICE C
Exit Trackers Tickets Exit Tracker #1
MISSION: SKETCH IT
Name
"A person walks to a friend's house, stays for an hour, and then walks home at the same speed."
Time Distance
Checklist:
Upward?
Flat?
Downward?
Exit Tracker #2
MISSION: ID THE ERROR
Name
Time Height
A student says this graph is "linear because it is smooth."
Why are they wrong?
Hint: Linear = straight line, constant rate.
Guided Tracker Lab Answer Key Answer Key
Guided Tracker Lab Key
Teacher Reference • NC.8.F.5
1 Interval ID
A B C
A: Increasing
B: Constant
C: Decreasing
2 The Fast Break
Sketch & Labels:
TIME DISTANCE
Steepest segment?
Part 3 (Run) is steepest due to higher speed.
Flat part?
Stopped at mailbox; distance is constant.
3 Think Like the Test
Constant decrease match:
Soup temperature dropping steadily.
Solo Tracker Missions Answer Key Answer Key
Solo Tracker Missions
Teacher Reference • independent Level
01
The Water Tank
40 80
Choice A (Correct)
Key Points:
• Start at y=40 (half-full tank).
• Positive slope (filling).
• Flat line (steady level).
• Steep negative slope (rapid drain).
02
The Great Escape Key
Time Distance
T/F Key:
Stopped = Flat TRUE
Steep = Slower FALSE
Linear = Constant TRUE
EOG Tracker Challenge Answer Key Answer Key
EOG Tracker Challenge Key
TEACHER REFERENCE • NC.8.F.5
Correct: CHOICE A
1. Graph representing constant decrease?
Correct: II (Stopped)
2. During which interval is the runner stopped (Distance doesn't change)?
Answer: Interval II
II (FLAT)
Correct: Altitude
3. Story with positive, linear then constant?
"A plane climbs at a steady rate, then stays at the same altitude."
Correct: Linear Increase
SPEED
4. True statement about the Speed-Time graph?
Speed is increasing at a linear rate (straight line up).
Correct: CHOICE A
5. Bathtub volume: Fill, stop, then drain.
CORRECT
Q6 Key
Distance-Time Horizontal?
C. Staying at a fixed position. The object has stopped moving.
Q7 Key
Nonlinear Interval?
Choice C: The curved part.
Q8 Key
Returning to Start?
D. Downward slope (Negative slope). Distance from origin is decreasing.
Q9 Key
Meaning of Steepness?
B. Moving quickly. A steeper slope = higher rate of change (speed).
Question 10
10. "Slowing down steadily until a complete stop."
Speed Time
Answer Choice C: Represents a nonlinear deceleration (slowing down) that levels off at zero speed (on the x-axis).
Exit Trackers Tickets Answer Key Answer Key
Exit Tracker #1 Key
Sketch Verification
"A person walks to a friend's house, stays for an hour, and then walks home at the same speed."
Time Distance
* Note: The upward and downward slopes should have the same steepness to represent the "same speed."
Exit Tracker #2 Key
Explanation Verification
Teacher Answer Guide:
"The student is wrong because a linear function must be a straight line with a constant rate of change. This graph is curved, which means it is nonlinear."
