Why was Pythagoras so obsessed with squares? The assessment task posits the question of whether the geometric interpretation of the Pythagorean Theorem holds for figures other than squares. Scholars first consider the case of semicircles...

How many different types of triangles can your class name? A discovery lesson guides learners through an exploration of the different triangle types and the relationships between their angles and sides. Using coordinate geometry,...

Geometers explore symmetries of isosceles triangles by using rigid transformations of the plane. They complete four tasks, including congruence proofs, which illustrate the relationship between congruence and rigid transformations. The...

What can symmetry tell us about triangles? After looking at four examples, learners will come to realize that lines of symmetry are different for equilateral, isosceles, and scalene triangles. Use this guided practice activity as an...

Here you will find a model of a linear relationship between two quantities, the water depth of a channel and the distance across the channel at water level. The cross section of the channel is the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. The...

Scholars explore triangles with rods of different lengths. Using rods of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 cm class members build as many different types of triangles as they can. They also describe properties of these triangles and determine...

Something for young mathematicians to remember: the sum of any two sides must be greater than the third. Class members investigates the Triangle Inequality Theorem to find the relationship between the sides of a triangle. At the same...

The class braids irrational numbers, Pythagoras, and perimeter together. The mini-assessment requires scholars to use irrational numbers and the Pythagorean Theorem to find perimeters of rugs. The rugs are rectangular, triangular,...

Assess scholars' knowledge with a 22-page assessment that covers place value, patterns, probability, estimation, measurement, geometric figures; and their ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide proficiently. 

Have scholars show what they know with a 20-page assessment aligned to the California State Standards. The test covers concepts such as large and whole numbers, all four mathematical operations, fractions, decimals, geometric figures,...

And round and round the park we go! Given a description of an amusement park with the locations of three attractions connected by walkways, learners consider what happens when additional attractions join the mix by doubling the length of...

Need an activity for teaching the Pythagorean Theorem? Geometry juniors apply the Pythagorean theorem to two triangles to determine a final calculation. 

Here is a lesson that starts with having geometers translate points using compass directions into an accurate picture of the problem. Then they must use their knowledge of the Pythagorean theorem or similar triangles to solve. This makes...

Learners investigate the symmetries of a convex quadrilateral in a collaborative activity. Rigid motion and complements are explored as learners analyze different cases of reflections across a line.

Building on young mathematicians' prior knowledge of three-sided shapes, this lesson series explores the defining characteristics of different types of triangles. Starting with a shared reading of the children's book The Greedy...

The Hopewell people of the central Ohio Valley used right triangles in the construction of earthworks. Pupils use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine missing dimensions of right triangles used by the Hopewell people. The assessment task...

This activity is a follow-on activity to inscribing a square in a circle. The overall problem is more complex. It deals with geometric constructions, properties of triangles, and regular hexagons. The final part of the activity...

Inscribing a square in a circle brings up a number of interesting geometry topics including triangle congruence and how to prove a quadrilateral is a square. This activity is followed up by finding the area of the square and determining...

Given the lines of symmetry in an equilateral triangle, your learners find where the pre-image vertices are mapped onto the new image. They explore the properties of equilateral triangles, the impact of reflections, and the...

Challenge the class with inscribed circles in triangles. The assessment task requests class members use their knowledge of circles and right triangles to prove two triangles are congruent. They go on to utilize their knowledge of...

Three angles in a triangle, three-dimensional space, it all seems connected somehow. Given several different triangles, pupils use the three angles of the triangle as coordinates to plot points in three-dimensional space. They explore...

You'd be surprised what you can do with a string! The constraint is the length of string, and the task is to maximize area. Given a series of composite shapes, learners must create a formula for the maximum area for a specified...

Divide and conquer the geometry problem. Young scholars consider how to subdivide triangles into smaller ones that have equal areas. They must apply their knowledge of medians to help accomplish the task.

Stretch your mind about triangles. Given a triangle, scholars consider a smaller triangle formed when they stretch three rubber bands from each vertex to the opposite side. They determine the ratios of the areas and perimeters of the...