This lesson is designed for an Algebra II through Pre-Calculus classes and introduces the conic section- an ellipse. In this lesson students explore an ellipse, the set of points in a plane such that the sum of the distances from each point to two fixed points is constant. The students will investigate the construction of an ellipse and be able to recognize its major axis, semi-major axis and focal points and to be able to compute its eccentricity. This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science, GEMS Project funded by the Malone Family Foundation.