So you want to know how to rock teaching proofs? Proofs cut-out activities are hands down my favorite activity for teaching proofs.
I’ve found that at the
very beginning, students need lots of modeling to see how to solve proofs. Then, when I release them to practice on their own, they often stare at the page. That’s where cut-out activities come in. Basically, they are a low stress way for students to practice. Students kind of have a “word bank” with options to choose from and if they make a mistake they don’t have to erase a million times.
Here’s how they work:
- I give my students three or four proofs with all the statements and reasons needed for the proofs, jumbled together.
- The students cut all of them out and sort them into proofs. Since they’re not writing anything, they can move the statements and reasons around quickly and easily.
- If students are struggling, I give them a sheet with hints (included in every proofs cut-out). Usually, the hints page is enough to help them figure everything out themselves.
- While students are working, I walk around, check their work, and try to clear up misconceptions.
Proofs cut-outs make it easier for students to make mistakes. There’s no writing and erasing and writing and erasing and erasing while they’re learning. Students can easily manipulate the statements and reasons with no record of mistakes. In my classes, this has totally eliminated students staring off into space and feeling overwhelmed.
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Introductory Geometry Proofs Cut-Out Activity |
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Parallel Lines with Transversals Proofs Cut-Out Activity |
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Parallel and Perpendicular Lines Proofs Cut-Out Activity |
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Triangle Congruence Proofs Cut-Out Activity |
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Triangle Congruence and CPCTC Proofs Cut-Out Activity |
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Geometry Proofs Cut-Out Activity Bundle |
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