The Puddle

Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity is designed to introduce students to directional derivatives.
2. Students work in small groups to determine the rate of change of the depth of a puddle in particular directions.
3. The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes the need to specify “with respect to what”, and to indicate what quantities are being held constant.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

• Introduces students to directional derivatives.
• Encourages students to relate directional derivatives to the gradient.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

Student Handouts

mvpuddlehand.pdf