lessons_telecommunications

Lesson Plan

Name: Heather Airey
Type of Lesson: Telecommunications
Lesson Plan Title: Pythagorean Proofs

Discipline: Mathematics
Topic: Pythagorean theorem and beginning proofs

Target Population:
    Grade Level: High School (9-12)
    Population Characteristics:
    Lesson Grouping: Two-student groups, Whole class

Curriculum Links: This is a simple lesson to introduce students to how information can be found on the Web that pertains to mathematics and to apply that information to current and future mathematical concepts. In this case to take what has been learned, Pythagorean theorem, look at the various proofs of this theorem, and try to see the logic behind these proofs before learning how to construct their own proofs of, for example, congruent triangles.
    Before: Pythagorean theorem, Right Triangle Trig
    After: Proofs

Objectives:
·    Students should be able to follow the logic behind the more informal proofs found on the website
·    Students should be able to construct their own two-column proofs using the proofs found on the website
Media Literacy Objectives: High School Level
Basic: Take notes & gather data from non-print sources
            Use online information sources for research
Critical: Judge the accuracy & completeness of electronic information & support these conclusions

Materials: Computer, worksheets
Time: 1 85-minute block

Scope & Sequence:
0-15 minutes: outline lesson, review Pythagorean theorem, perform simple proof, hand out website evaluation form, proof outline (time: 15 minutes)
15-75 minutes: hour of computer time to look up given website, chose a proof to copy into the proof outline, try to fill out a two-column proof like the example given in class and fill out the website evaluation (time: 60 minutes)
75-85 minutes: class discussion about the website, website evaluations, proofs (time: 10 minutes)
    Websites: www.cut-the-knot.org/pythagoras/index.shtml

Supplementary Materials: website evaluation

Evaluations of Students:

Objective	0 points	1/2 points	1 points
Notes & Data	No Notes	Incomplete Notes	Complete notes
Use Online Sources	Use Textbook		Use websites given
Judge Information	Student does not fill out website evaluation	Student fills out basic information on evaluation form without thought	Student fills out evaluation form completely and thoughtfully
Follow Logic	Student does not understand formal proof	Student understands some of the logic behind the informal proof	Student understands the logic behind the informal proof enough to be able to restate it in a two-column proof
Two-column proof	Student does not interpret information into two-column proof	Student attempts a two-column proof, but follows no logic	Student attempts proof with minimal mistakes

Evaluation of Lesson:
Most students should successfully complete this lesson, which in this case would be a score of at least 3.5 out of 5 possible points. This would indicate that that given an accurate informal proof students can follow the logic and then restructure the information into a two-column proof. Students should walk away with a sense of what two-column proof entails. If this happens the lesson was successful and this sets the stage for students to learn how to construct these types of proof on their own.

Artifacts