Mrs. GeometryTeacherFriend and I have been working hard on our Right Triangle Unit, which we start Tuesday. She has been been doing a lot of work updating the homework assignments and I have been planning the activities and daily practice. The goal is to make this a richer unit than it was last year. It drives me nuts when we get to area and solids and students can't remember special right triangle rules. This year, I'm going to try to make them practice, practice, practice. I don't care if they can reason through it, I want it to be automatic as well.
Anyway, this is the plan for the unit. It is a typical breakdown of what each unit I do looks like. Believe it or not, this will suffice as my lesson plans for the whole unit (I don't have to turn in lesson plans.) I do bell work at the beginning of every class. I usually make it up every morning. However, sometimes I have special bell work planned. My class periods are normally 45 minutes, but occasionally we have block periods.
Day 1 - Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagorean Theorem Notes
Pythagorean Theorem Word Problem Task Cards - I haven't decided what I'm going to do with the task cards yet. I'll probably decide on the fly. I only have one set printed, so we'll probably play Scoot! or do white board practice.
Day 2 - Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem
Mini-Lesson (Reminder) of Simplifying Radicals - We'll just work through these problems together.
Converse of Pythagorean Theorem Notes
Day 3 - Similar Right Triangles
Simplifying Radicals Matching Cards - (as long bell work) They'll work with their partners and go through each set matching a radical expression to it's simplified version.
Similar Right Triangles Notes - This lesson takes FOREVER because the kids have a really hard time remembering the relationships. It will take more than half of the class period, but that's ok.
Day 4 - Review
Start Homework in Class
Day 5 - 45-45-90 Triangles
Start Homework in Class
Day 6 - 30-60-90 Triangles (75 minute class period)
30-60-90 Triangles Notes
Special Right Triangles Trashketball
Day 7 - Review
Special Right Triangles Pop Quiz
Mid-Unit Review Stations - Word Document
Mid-Unit Review Stations - PDF Document
Mid-Unit Review Stations - Word Document
Mid-Unit Review Stations - PDF Document
Day 8 - Mid-Unit Test
Day 9 - Tangent Ratio
Short Discovery Activity
Tangent Ratio Notes
Start Homework in Class
Day 10 - Sine, Cosine, Tangent
Sine, Cosine, Tangent Notes
Day 11 - Angles of Depression and Elevation
Short Trig Ratios Quiz
Angles of Depression and Elevation Notes
Day 12 - Review
Day 13 - Unit Test
Phew! It really took a lot of planning. The students have homework every night. We changed a lot of the textbook problems, so we had to type up new homework keys for all of the assignments. #teacherproblems
If you're teaching right triangles anytime soon, I hope it helps to get a glimpse into my class :) Do you have anything you especially like to do during this unit?
