Hardcore Hardball

We are very excited to inform you about the extended project your child will be undertaking during the coming 5th six-weeks of his or her Algebra I and Biology classes.

In this project, your child will act as co-owner of a simulated professional baseball team, and investigate the rich spectrum of mathematical and scientific questions that arise in the course of planning and managing that team. Your child will work in a group of 3-4 students on a series of ongoing investigations. They will learn statistics as they develop a strategy to identify and draft the best players for their team. They will use linear functions to determine when it is appropriate to attempt a stolen base, and will use quadratic functions to analyze the “rising” fastball and the best positioning of outfielders. They will design a ballpark for their team, and quantify its expected effect on their team’s offense and defense. In biology class, they will find out how the muscles in the human body work to hit a baseball, and examine the energy cycle an athlete undergoes while running the basepath. They will examine the limits of human performance and confront the effects of using steroids to stretch those limits. At the end of the grading period, your child’s group will submit a paper and give a presentation, summarizing the mathematical and scientific decisions their group made. The final paper and presentation will make up a large portion of your child’s grade in this course, along with ongoing assessments such as journal entries, homework, and quizzes.

The school will provide all of the necessary supplies your child will need to succeed in this project. We have secured grants that will supply technological devices (motion detectors, graphing calculators, statistical and modeling software, etc) that groups will use to quantify and analyze various aspects of the sport. Your child need only bring their regular supplies – paper, pencil, and a well-sharpened mind.

This project will feel very different from other classes your child has taken. They will not solve short exercises, but rather extended and complex investigations. There will be minimal lecturing and teams will have significant freedom to choose their own focus and strategy in these investigations. The class time will be almost entirely devoted to labs and explorations – enough time that no outside of class time investment (on your or your child’s part) should be required beyond their regular homework. Since this project relies so heavily on in class labs and explorations, it is imperative that your child be present and on time to class. Many days will be designated “work days” where project groups will be given free time to collaborate and make plans for the completion of the groups’ individual projects. Therefore, it is important that your child manage his/her time wisely, arrive prepared, and work consistently on these days.

We hope that you and your child are as excited as we are about the opportunity to explore mathematics in a real-world, engaging context. The benefits of learning in context are well supported both by educational research and by our instructional experience – compared to lecture-based instruction, students not only learn more and make deeper connections, they have much more fun. If you or your child has any questions or concerns regarding grades, supplies, or expectations for this project, please feel free to contact us at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Daniel FitzPatrick Office: 222-2147 dlfitzpatrick@highschoolname.net

Philip Kromer Office: 222-3465 kromer@highschoolname.net

Jonathan Lopez-Hoffman Office: 222-3144 j-lohoff@highschool.net

Please fill out the form below, detach, and have your child bring it back to class. Please keep the letter for your records.

Childís Name: ______________________

I have read and I understand the basic information regarding the project my child is involved in this six weeks.Ý I have been informed about how my child will be graded, about the supplies my child will need in class, and about the time my child will spend on class-related work outside of class time.

Parent/Guardian Name: __________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________ Date: __________