Mathercise- Algebra II "Graphs of special functions"

The first two days the students are taught about seven functions and how to make them move up, down, right, left or a combination of movements from the origin. I teach them :
squared functions
identy functions
cubic functions
absolute value functions
square root functions
greatest interger functions.
We look at t-charts, graphs on the graphing calculator and from these we come up with rules to their movement. They are
Plus is up
Minus is down
Sum is left and
Difference in right when the fucntion is in standard form.
With each funstion they are shown how to use thier bodies to represent that function from just listening to an equation being read to them. I give them a test on this worth half a chapter test. They must disminstrate eight equations told to them with on movement and two with two movements. This is hard becasue students are not use to learning and memorizing with their bodies and through audio. The material is stored in several places in the brain and they are more likely to retain it.
The third day they are shown a quick sketch of one of the functions or I will put it up using my TI-Viewscreen the graph of a the functions. They have to come up with the right equation to produce that graph. My students work in groups during notes so it is fun to watch them get it and teach others in thier group.