Cynthia Lanius: School Bus Geometry

Example Web Site and/or Technical Equipment Required

Website: http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/Geom/index.html

Website Example: http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/Geom/schbus1.html

Tech Product Equipment

Computer, Internet access, projector

Activity Description

In this activity, students learn about the Pythagorean Theorem, equation of a circle, and finding midpoints through the analogy a school bus. This is a great activity at the conclusion of a unit on Pythagorean Theorem.

Preparation

1. Make sure that the site is not blocked at your school.
2. There are three parts to this Lesson Plan . Be sure to review all three sections.
3. Gather some graph paper for part two or use the link, square grid paper , at the top of the page to print some out.

How-To

1. Teach a unit on Pythagorean Theorem.
2. Introduce the activity and project it on a screen.
3. Discuss the problem
4. Have students mark all points of the grid that are 4 blocks away from Point A.
5. Discuss the definition of a circle and the Algebra Connection.
6. Give students time the work the two Challenge Questions.
7. Discuss and check answers.
8. Introduce "Meet You Half-Way"
9. Give students time to mark the midpoint on their grid.
10. Discuss and check answers.

More Ways

• On this page you will find activities for middle or high school geometry. Included activities cover Hidden Irrationals, Hidden Polygons, Isosceles Triangles, Pythagorean Theory, Golden Ratio, and Cylinder Volume.
• Check the "Impossible Triangles" link. The exercise is useful for high school equivalency students as it reviews triangle rules. There is also material to study the Pythagorean theorem.
• This instructor has created many more math activities  and you can find them on her home page.

Select subjects and subcategories

Math

• Geometry