Plus C Room Decorations for Calculus

If your students are like mine and have trouble remembering the constant of integration, I’ve got a fun bit of classroom decor to help remind them to never forget their +c when taking an antiderivative.

AP CALCULUS RESOURCES

Teaching AP Calculus (or an equivalent first year calculus course) this year? I have compiled all of my AP Calculus activities and resources in one handy spot for you to browse.

The Story Behind My Plus C Decorations

This is one of those ideas that has been floating around in my head since I started teaching AP Calculus 4ish years ago. I always thought it would be fun for students to walk in my classroom on the day we first learn about antiderivatives to find little plus c’s hanging EVERYWHERE.

I wanted students to wonder, “What is up with all these +c’s?” Or, “I bet these +c’s are kinda important.” This year I finally made it happen.

Okay, I will be honest. I put them up the day AFTER I introduced students to the constant of integration, but now that I have them laminated – I will put them up before teaching the topic in future years.

Student Reactions

My calculus students found it hilarious that I went to all this effort to help them not forget their plus c. Let’s be honest, part of the reminder is for me! (There’s a reason I put one of the plus c cards right above my wacom tablet on my podum!)

It’s been fun to see what my other classes think of all the plus c’s around the room. One student assumed that we were doing a scavenger hunt activity since cards were taped up all around the room. Nope. Sorry. That’s for my calculus class.

Preparation/Print Instructions

There are two different sizes of plus c decorations to choose from (18 to a page or 8 to a page). I printed both sizes and did a sort of mix and match around the room. But you could definitely just go with one of the sizes to make things easier.

I printed them on colored paper/cardstock, laminated them, and then cut them apart with my paper chopper.

Files for Plus C Decorations

There isn’t much to these files, but I thought I would go ahead and share them so you don’t have to unnecessarily reinvent the wheel.