What It Is
Slope Lab is a 21-lesson, 25–30 hour hands-on Math Lab where students build a Gravity Racer using Circuit Cubes™, collect real distance and time data, and discover rate, slope, and linear equations through their own measurements. They don't memorize rise-over-run — they discover it.
Activities use physical materials, such as Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits, ramp kits, tape measures, stopwatches, and graphing sheets. All materials are fully durable — buy once, use every year.
The Story
Students start by building a Gravity Racer — first motorless on ramps. They run trials, collect distance and time data, and discover patterns. They explore constant vs. changing rate, calculate unit rate, graph their data and encounter slope. They add a motor, explore constant rate, write equations in y = mx + b form, investigate gears, discover the y-intercept, and compete in a Grand Prix where predictions require real algebra.
Each task requires students to use rate, slope, and linear equation concepts in authentic, data-driven ways. The curriculum is taught through a web-based slide portal at algebrastudio.org — Howie is the on-screen instructor in embedded videos. No special training is required.
Who It's For
- 7th–8th grade teachers looking for hands-on supplemental curriculum in rate, slope, and linear equations
- 9th grade teachers who need Algebra 1 foundations support
- Afterschool and summer program directors who want turnkey STEM programming
- Curriculum coordinators looking for hands-on, standards-aligned supplements that work alongside any core curriculum
What's in the Kit
- Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits (motorless + motor)
- Ramp kits for data collection
- Tape measures and stopwatches
- Graphing sheets and data recording forms
- Gear investigation materials
- Grand Prix competition materials
- Equation worksheets and prediction sheets
- Quick reference booklet
21 Lessons at a Glance
How It Works
Every lesson runs through a web-based slide portal at algebrastudio.org. Howie is the on-screen instructor in embedded video mini-lessons — he introduces each task, demonstrates the math, and guides students through the activity. No special training is required. Open the kit, follow the slides, and go.
Lessons are designed to run between 45 and 90 minutes, with some extending longer at the teacher's discretion. The curriculum works as a daily block (6–7 weeks), a twice-weekly enrichment (10–14 weeks), or an afterschool/summer program.
Sample Lesson
Standards by Lesson
Slope Lab covers proportional relationships, unit rate, slope, and linear equations (y = mx + b) standards already in your grade 7–8 scope. It supplements any core curriculum and gives students a chance to apply the math you're already teaching.
| # | What Students Do | Standards |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Build racer & collect data — rate & patterns | 7.RP.A.2 |
| 5–7 | Constant vs. changing rate | 7.RP.A.2, 8.EE.B.5 |
| 8–10 | Constant rate exploration — proportional relationships | 7.RP.A.2 |
| 11–12 | Unit rate — compute & interpret | 7.RP.A.1 |
| 13–14 | Graphing & slope — rise over run from data | 8.EE.B.5, 8.F.A.3 |
| 15 | Writing equations — y = mx + b | 8.F.A.3, 8.EE.B.6 |
| 16 | Gear investigation — rate of change | 8.F.A.2, 8.F.B.4 |
| 17 | The Fair Race — y-intercept | 8.F.A.3, 8.EE.B.6 |
| 18–21 | Grand Prix — predictions using y = mx + b | 8.F.A.1–3, 8.EE.B.5–6 |
Career & Workplace Connections
Each Slope Lab lesson connects to a real-world career role that uses the same math students are learning. For every lesson, we provide a one-page Workplace Connection brief that introduces a professional — such as a data analyst who uses slope to interpret trends in business performance, or an automotive engineer who calculates rate of change to optimize vehicle efficiency. These briefs give CTE directors and career-readiness coordinators a concrete way to show students how rate, slope, and linear equations appear in careers across data science, automotive, energy, and urban planning — making Slope Lab a natural fit for programs that integrate academic content with career and technical education pathways.
Kit Sizes
Slope Lab is sold as a bundle with Balance Lab. All three sizes run the same 21-lesson curriculum. Teams are 4 students each.
Starter Kit
Trial size. Two teams get the full Balance Lab + Slope Lab experience.
- 2 physical balance kits + cups & cubes
- 2 Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits
- Ramp kits, tape measures, stopwatches
4-Team Kit
For smaller classes, intervention groups, afterschool programs.
- 4 physical balance kits + cups & cubes
- 4 Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits
- Ramp kits, tape measures, stopwatches
Full Kit
Full-class including materials for all 7 teams.
- 7 physical balance kits + cups & cubes
- 7 Circuit Cubes™ Gravity Racer kits
- Ramp kits, tape measures, stopwatches
Cost Per Student
4-Team Kit: $795 ÷ 16 students = $50 per student for 40–50 hours of instruction across both labs. All materials are fully durable — buy once, use every year. Year 2+ cost: $0.