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EDUC 2220-Educational Technology Lesson Plan Can You Prove It? The Pythagorean Theorem

This lesson plan teaches students about the Pythagorean theorem through various activities over two class periods. On the first day, students will watch video clips about the theorem and play games reviewing squares. They will then try to prove the theorem in groups. The second day focuses on using an online simulation called Gizmo to apply the theorem to real-world right triangle scenarios. Pre- and post-assessments include quizzes on squares and the theorem. Differentiation and extensions are provided.

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Molly Simpson
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62 views

EDUC 2220-Educational Technology Lesson Plan Can You Prove It? The Pythagorean Theorem

This lesson plan teaches students about the Pythagorean theorem through various activities over two class periods. On the first day, students will watch video clips about the theorem and play games reviewing squares. They will then try to prove the theorem in groups. The second day focuses on using an online simulation called Gizmo to apply the theorem to real-world right triangle scenarios. Pre- and post-assessments include quizzes on squares and the theorem. Differentiation and extensions are provided.

Uploaded by

Molly Simpson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EDUC 2220- Educational Technology Lesson Plan

Can You Prove It? The Pythagorean Theorem

MOLLY SIMPSON
Grade 8 Math

Common Core Standards:

Understand and apply the Pythagorean Theorem.


8.G.6 Analyze and justify an informal proof of the Pythagorean
Theorem and its converse.
8.G.7 Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to determine unknown side
lengths in right triangles in real-world and mathematical problems in
two and three dimensions.

Lesson Summary:

Through various activities, video clips, games, and lessons, students will be able to understand and apply the
Pythagorean Theorem. Using Gizmo, an online simulation, students will calculate the unknown side of a right
triangle in real-word situations in both two and three dimensions.

Estimated Duration:

This lesson will take 120 minutes or two class periods of one hour.

Commentary:

I plan to get students hooked by showing a YouTube video clip where a Who Wants to be a Millionaire
contestant loses $15,000 because he did not know how to find perfect squares. Students will need to know this
skill in order to learn and apply the Pythagorean Theorem. I anticipate students struggling with locating the
hypotenuse of a right triangle.
Instructional Procedures:

Day 1:
First fifteen minutes: Introductory Activity: Students will watch the following YouTube video clip:
https://www.youtube.om/watch?v=BbX44YSsQ2I
It is titled “When not knowing math can cost you” and is a snippet from Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
Have each student pick the right answer A, B, C, D using technology (a remote answering system) possibly
embedded in the online game Kahoot. Students may be surprised to learn the audience got the answer wrong.
Next fifteen minutes: Students will play games to review square numbers:
http://www.quia.com/cc/65631.html
Last thirty minutes: Students will watch TED-Ed YouTube clip entitled “How many ways are there to prove
the Pythagorean Theorem” and then work in small groups to try to prove it themselves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YompsDlEdtc

Day 2:
Whole sixty-minute class period: Gizmo (simulation of using the Pythagorean Theorem to find unknown
lengths of right triangles in real-life scenarios).

Pre-Assessment:
Students should be able to list the perfect squares through 225
Administer a quiz (i.e. pre-assessment)

Scoring Guidelines:
It will be a ten-point quiz, and students will have the opportunity to gain all ten points upon review of
questions missed.

Post-Assessment:

Satisfactory completion of Gizmo and a 10-point quiz similar to pre-assessment.

Scoring Guidelines:
Gizmo simulation will be worth 20 points and quiz will be worth ten.
Differentiated Instructional Support
Discuss additional activities you could do to meet the needs of students who might be struggling with the
material: I have found lots of ideas for differentiated instruction and created a Pinterest board titled
Pythagorean Theorem and pinned the ideas there. Here is the link:
https://www.pinterest.com/mmcguiresimpson37/pins/

Extension
Website extension (see additional notes)

Homework Options and Home Connections


Any work on Gizmo not completed in class with be homework. Parents can also be involved with the
simulation of Pythagorean Theorem at home.

Interdisciplinary Connections
This is where I will tie in PowerPoint/book on Pythagoras for ELA connection; ART using right triangles
“Reason is immortal, all else is mortal.” Pythagoras ELA quote analysis.

Materials and Resources:

For teachers Computer access; Gizmo teacher guide

For students Computer access; Gizmo subscription


Key Vocabulary

Square numbers
Square roots
Exponents
Right angle
Right triangle
Legs (of a right triangle)
Hypotenuse
Pythagorean Theorem
Proof
Converse

Additional Notes

Since I do not actually have a Gizmo account, the exact details are a bit fuzzy. I have, however, seen Gizmo in
action with a student I tutor. The simulations are powerful and include lots of support information. Also, the
following team of teachers have an EXCELLENT page of activities for teaching the Pythagorean Theorem:
https://ideagalaxyteacher.com/13-pythagorean-theorem-activities-classroom/

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