An Example of Scope and Sequence for Calculator Skills
Developed by Carol B. Brown, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX
Statement of philosophy: The graphing calculator is a tool to be used in mathematics and science classes. It is not an end in itself. Skills that are enhanced or reinforced by the graphing calculator should be practiced on a regular basis at all levels. Use of the calculator should not mean that students do not learn basic mathematical operations or graphing skills.
Question 1: When is it appropriate to introduce students to the graphing calculator? Answer: Grade 6 with classroom sets of calculators. Starting with grade 7, all students may be required to purchase a TI 83, a TI 83+, or a TI-83+silver. This calculator will be satisfactory for all work done through grade 12.
| Skill | Introduced | Practiced | Mastered |
| Turn calculator on and off | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Adjust contrast | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Learn about battery system | 7th Alg 1 |
9th | |
| Basic operations (+, -, ×, or ÷) | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Recalling answers | 6th | 7th | |
| Recalling entry | 6th | 7th | |
| Link for data transfer or program transfer/Mem Management | 7th Sci | 8th | |
| Use catalog | 7th | 8th | |
| Math menu | 7th Alg 1 |
9th | |
| Entering numbers in scientific notation | 6th Pre-Alg |
Science classes | 8th |
| Clearing entries | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Returning to home screen | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Use of sin, cos, tan | 6th Math | 8th Science | 8th |
| Use of sin-1, cos-1, tan-1, x-1 | 8th Science | 9th | Pre-Cal |
| Entering numbers in STAT/ clearing lists | 8th Alg/Geo Science |
8th | |
| STAT Edit menu/ sorting lists, / SETUP EDITOR | 9th | 9th | |
| Functions which take arguments | 8th Science | Physics, Chem, Alg II | 10th |
| Use of STAT PLOT | 6th Science | Science/Math | 8th |
| Windows | 7th Alg I |
8th Science Physics/Chem |
11th |
| Zoom functions | 7th | 8th | 8th |
| Trace | 9th | 11th | |
| Calculating a value | 9th | Chem | 11th |
| Calculating an intersection | 9th Alg II |
Chem/AP classes | 12th |
| Solver | Optional | ||
| Use of CBL to collect data/PHYSICS/CHEMBIO/DATAMATE | 6th Science | 7th science | 8th Science |
| Random number generator | 12th AP Statistics |
||
| Two variable statistics | Pre-Calculus | ||
| Linear regressions including pasting in function into y= | 8th/Alg I and Science | 9th | |
| Correlation coefficient including turning on diagnostics | 8th Science | 8th grade | |
| Curve fitting-linear functions | 8th Alg I and Science | Physics | 9th |
| Batch transforms | 8th Science/Alg I | Physics | 10th Chem |
| Linear transforms | 11th AP Sciences |
AP Sciences | |
| Downloading data to computer and use of Graphical Analysis | 8th Science | 9th | 9th |
| One variable statistics/mean/median/standard deviation/histograms/box and whiskers | 8th | Algebra I Chemistry |
Statistics |
| Non-linear functions and curve fitting | 8th Science | Physics | AP Sciences |
| Basic programing skills | 9th Geo/Alg II |
11th |
The following skills are introduced in grades 9-12 and may or may not be totally mastered dependent upon the student's math/science selection of courses. However, no teacher should feel that he or she cannot use any of the following skills if appropriate to the lesson.
| Skill | Introduced | Practiced | Mastered |
| STAT Edit menu/ sorting lists, / SETUP EDITOR | 9th | 9th | |
| Trace | 9th | 11th | |
| Calculating a value | 9th | Chem | 11th |
| Calculating an intersection | 9th Alg II |
Chem/AP classes | 12th |
| Solver | Optional | ||
| Random number generator | 12th AP Statistics |
||
| Linear transforms | 11th AP Sciences |
12th | |
| Basic programing skills | Geo/Alg II | 11th |
The following skills are both introduced and mastered in the middle school years.
| Skill | Introduced | Practiced | Mastered |
| Turn calculator on and off | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Adjust contrast | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Basic operations (+, -, ×, or ÷) | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Clearing entries | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Returning to home screen | 6th Pre-Alg/Sci |
6th | |
| Recalling answers | 6th | 7th | |
| Recalling entry | 6th | 7th | |
| Link for data transfer or program transfer/Mem Management | 7th Sci | 8th | |
| Use catalog | 7th | 8th | |
| Entering numbers in scientific notation | 6th Pre-Alg |
Science classes | 8th |
| Use of sin, cos, tan | 6th Math | 8th Science | 8th |
| Entering numbers in STAT/ clearing lists | 8th Alg/Geo Science |
8th | |
| Use of STAT PLOT | 6th Science | Science/Math | 8th |
| Use of CBL to collect data/PHYSICS/CHEMBIO/DATAMATE | 6th Science | 7th science | 8th Science |
The following skills are introduced in middle school but are not mastered until the high school years.
| Skill | Introduced | Practiced | Mastered |
| Learn about battery system | 7th Alg 1 |
9th | |
| Math menu | 7th Alg 1 |
9th | |
| Use of sin-1, cos-1, tan-1, x-1 | 8th Science | 9th | Pre-Cal |
| Functions which take arguments | 8th Science | Physics, Chem, Alg II | 10th |
| Windows | 7th Alg I |
8th Science Physics/Chem |
11th |
| Linear regressions including pasting in function into y= | 8th/Alg I and Science | 9th | |
| Curve fitting-linear functions | 8th Alg I and Science | Physics | 9th |
| Batch transforms | 8th Science/Alg I | Physics | 10th Chem |
| Downloading data to computer and use of Graphical Analysis | 8th Science | 9th Physics |
9th |
| One variable statistics/mean/median/standard deviation/histograms/box and whiskers | 8th | Algebra I Chemistry |
Statistics |
| Non-linear functions and curve fitting | 8th Science | Physics | AP Sciences |
