The Pythagorean Theorem Task Card

Whitney Merkle

Objective: Students will be able to recognize and use the Pythagorean theorem, understanding
that it only applies to right triangles.

Materials:
• Straws of lengths 5, 6, 12, 13, and 15 cm for each grouping of students
• Pencil
• Paper

Task:
• Begin by learning about your group member’s strengths and assign roles
o Possible strengths: Attention to detail, abstract reasoning, visual, skilled in simple
algebraic procedures, leadership, pattern recognition, knowledge of types of
triangles…
o Possible roles: Scribe, facilitator, manipulator of straws, detective…
• Once your group has discussed roles, you will begin making as many various types of
triangles as you can using the straws. The scribe will write these down and classify them
by type (ex: isosceles, scalene, right, equilateral…). You will have 7 minutes to do so.
o The green straw is of length 5 cm
o The purple straw is of length 6 cm
o The red straw is of length 12 cm
o The blue straw is of length 13 cm
o The black straw is of length 15 cm
• Once the timer goes off, we will come together as a group to discuss the triangles we
came up with. Be able to defend your answers.
o Things to think about:
§ Are we sure this is a triangle? How do we know?
§ Are these the only possible triangles?
§ What is an example that would not make a triangle?
• Once we have decided on triangles as a group, you will apply the Pythagorean Theorem
to them: a2 + b2 = c2.
o Questions to ask if you are stuck:
§ Did we do our math right?
§ Does this work?
§ Can we notice a pattern?
o If you are still stuck, you may send one member to me for a hint card