Teaching the concept of a function. I am doing a class for at risk high school math students on the concept of a function.  I have seen all the Internet lesson plans and different differentiated instruction plans.  The idea of a function as a machine has always sat well with me, so I was thinking of playing off that.  Are there any "out of the box" ideas that perhaps someone used or saw or knows that might hit home?

This is great. A function is a machine with one (or more) mouth(s). You stick something in the mouth(s), and something special and unique comes out the other end.
Now we should note that if you stick one thing into the mouth machine, and two different things come out the other end, then your machine is not a function.
Christopher you are a saint (by virtue deciding to deliver to your chosen audience). I think I have some pretty stellar ideas on fascinating delivery of these things, but I really think the machine with the mouth and the other end is the best in this case. I can't top your idea. Now of course you are a professional, but when you start talking about putting something in a mouth and something coming out the other end, you should get giggles (you of course smiling and ignoring the innuendo). I like your style, always trying to wow, engage, and excite the audience! Best of luck.
