Pythagorean Theorem Subject: Math Grade level: 8th Grade Authors: Amanda Geheb, Kelly Blackburn, Matt Anderson

Overview Students will learn and understand the Pythagorean Theorem. They will be able to manipulate the equation as well as solve math problems- given either a word problem or a picture of a triangleusing the equation. This lesson plan is designed to work with at-risk students within a middle school classroom. The students this lesson is designed for all have a buddy that works with them to complete and understand material. This lesson was planned with a classroom of 15-20 students in mind. Students will use the small dry-erase boards available to complete the sample problems as well as compete in the tournament. The teacher will need the projector to show the picture and video associated with introducing the concept to the students. Given instruction from the teacher, students will be able to manipulate the Pythagorean Theorem in order to correctly answer eight of ten problems on the end of class assessment and use the formula for future math problems. Learning Connection MA.8.4 2000 Geometry MA.8.5: Use the Pythagorean Theorem and its converse to solve problems in two and three dimensions. Demonstration of the theorem for students GIF of Pythagorean Theorem Theorem used in baseball (YouTube Video- 1:50 when throw from third to first is shown) Picture of Pythagorean baseball diamond (Google Docs) History of Pythagorean Theorem Sample problems: Word Problems Other Problems Worksheet for students (to complete with buddies) (answers on second page) Tournament Questions Tournament Answers Bracket for game (made with the assumption of 20 students) Website to generate a new bracket if class needs more or less teams Quiz for students (answers for teacher on 2nd page)

Description of Learners

Learning Objectives

Standards

Materials

Procedure

1. Introduce the Pythagorean Theorem to students by showing

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6. Assessment

the GIF and the video about baseball (in materials) as fun ways to illustrate how the theorem works. a. In terms of the video, focus mostly on how the Pythagorean Theorem has allowed the technique of throwing the ball from third to first to be the best way to get a player out at first base in such a short amount of time. OPTIONAL: You may want to include a history of the Pythagorean Theorem- a helpful article can be found in materials. Sample problems (in materials) should be worked through by the teacher. Word problems are online and able to be projected for the students to see. They are multiple choice problems. An alternative option (to use the buddies in the classroom) is listed in extensions. Students should work through the worksheet (with their buddies) that can be found in materials. The tournament Have students break into groups of three or four (assign the groups if need be). Have each group come up with a name related to the Pythagorean Theorem for their team. Teacher then fills out the bracket (found in materials) with the team names. Teams advance on the single-elimination bracket by answering math problems correctly using the Pythagorean Theorem. The last team standing does not have to take the quiz (gets an automatic A) Another option could be candy or some other sort of non-grade related prize. Quiz (in materials) is to be given to the students

Students will be given a quiz involving different types of problems that focus on manipulating and understanding the Pythagorean Theorem. Do this after the tournament has been won. Grading will be on a right or wrong basis. If your class has multiple levels of learning capabilities, another option to go over the sample problems with the students is for them to get into groups and the buddies go over the problems with the students. This allows the teacher to circulate and help where needed. Practice with Pythagorean Theorem: a website that has word problems with pictures in order to give students more help with solving Pythagorean Triangle problems. History of Pythagorean Theorem: This website briefly touches on

Extensions

References

the history of the Pythagorean Theorem. Most of the links down at the bottom of the page return a cannot be found error, but it is easy enough to find proofs and the like online. Downloadable worksheet: About.com has worksheets that have problems involving the Pythagorean Theorem. Used Worksheet 1 as the quiz,Worksheet 3 as the worksheet, and Worksheet 5 for the sample problems in this lesson plan. YouTube: This video focuses more on the time it takes to from the pitch to getting the hitter out on first base but it will wow the kids with which the speed and how little time it takes to do this using the principle behind the pythagorean theorem and the hypotenuse of the triangle made by home plate, first, and third base. Standards: This is where the standards were found that this lesson was planned to cover. Articles Video Games: A Route to Large-Scale STEM Education? Mayo, Merrilea J. "Video games: A route to large-scale stem education?" Science 323.5910 (2009): 79+. Biography in Context. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. This article is about the prospects of using video games to teach the STEM disciplines. Video games offer an interactive experience for the user. This article details the various aspects of the video gaming experience that are relevant to the learning process. Video games can offer an individualized learning experience, opportunity for rapid learning through trial, error, and repetition. Research showed that the use of video games aided in learning outcome over lecture based learning. This article and research became relevant in our planning as we realized that STEM based learning can greatly be aided by the use of interactive tools, or even gaining the information in an interactive way. We tried to show how the pythagorean theorem could be visualized and how it can be applied in real life. We also contemplated how the use of tertiary historical knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem could help aid in context, relevance, and retention. The Prospect of an "A" in STEM Education Daugherty, M. K. (2013). The prospect of an "A" in STEM education. Journal of STEM Education : Innovations and Research,14(2), 10-15. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1355453699?accountid =13360

This article discusses methodologies in teaching the STEM disciplines. The article ultimately makes the case that art education should be included in teaching the STEM disciplines, detailing the various uses of the art disciplines in STEM fields. The article cites research that suggests STEM education can greatly be aided by exploiting stimulation of visual senses, as the article suggests this accesses higher cognitive parts of the brain. An important aspect of our lesson is the utilization of visual aids. This article suggests that STEM learning need not be reduced to understanding and interpreting data, in a dry format, and can benefit from more exciting learning aids. We have attempted to give the students a visualization of the Pythagorean Theorem by presenting them with an artistic representation of the concepts, either through our GIF demonstration, or our explanation of baseball geometry. We hope visualization beyond drawings of mere triangles will aid in the students learning. Web 2.0 Discussion Form We chose to teach this particular lesson because the Pythagorean Theorem requires students to use skills that they will continually need as they advance through their math classes. The theorem demands that the students be able to rearrange the equation to fit the information that they are given in the problem, and that is an essential skill needed and used often for the Algebra, Precalculus, and Calculus levels of math.