Curated OER
A Rectangle in the Coordinate Plane
A quadrilateral is drawn on the coordinate plane, and eighth grade geometers find the length of each side and the diagonals by applying the Pythagorean theorem.
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
STEM: Lou-Vee Air Car
A comprehensive instructional activity on acceleration awaits your physicists and engineers! Two YouTube videos pique their interest, then sample F=ma problems are worked and graphed. The highlight of the instructional activity is the...
National Research Center for Career and Technical Education
Finance: Depreciation (Double Declining)
Of particular interest to a group of business and finance pupils, this lesson explores depreciation of automobile values by comparing the double declining balance to the straight line method. Mostly this is done through a slide...
University of Colorado
Designing an Open Spectrograph
Take the class over the rainbow. Pairs or small groups follow directions to create a spectrograph. The pupils measure the angles formed by the different colors of the spectrum along with calculating the lengths formed by the spectrum and...
Radford University
The Roanoke Adventure!
Travel about town. Pupils work in pairs to find the distances between landmarks with a map. The teams determine how far to travel on the streets and the length between the landmarks with the distance formula and compare the two. Learners...
Radford University
Getting Around Millbrook
When is the distance formula not accurate? Referencing a map of the school, pairs determine the walking distance between two locations. Creating coordinates for each location, pupils determine the distance between the two points and...
Radford University
Triangular Irrigation
Try to keep the pipe short. Learners investigate where to place a water pump to use the least amount of pipe. Scholars use their knowledge of reflections and congruent triangles to find the best location for the water pump. Finally, they...
Radford University
Distance and Midpoint Formulas in a Mall
Go for a walk in the mall. Pupils find distances between stores on a diagram of a mall on Quadrant I. The scholars also determine the midpoint between a store and an entrance to the mall to then create their own paths and determine their...
Radford University
Natural Disaster Recovery and Quadrilaterals: Fencing and Roofing Materials
Storm into a better understanding of geometry. Using a tornado as a backdrop, scholars practice their skills finding perimeters and areas of rectangles. Learners apply their knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem to find missing sides of...
Corbett Maths
Shortest Distance between Line and Point
A short video shows how to find the shortest distance between a line and a point on the coordinate plane. Using the fact the shortest distance is the perpendicular, the presenter shows the class how to find the intersection of the two...
Mathed Up!
Pythagoras' Theorem
Use a right method to find a distance. Given a right triangle, class members find the length of one side given the measurement of the other two sides—the missing side may or may not be the hypotenuse. A video reminds the pupils how to...
CCSS Math Activities
Smarter Balanced Sample Items: 8th Grade Math – Target H
Pythagoras is all about being right. A presentation provides sample items for how the Pythagorean Theorem standards may show up in Smarter Balanced assessments. Seven items use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the sides of a right...
101 Questions
Viewmongous TV
Just how big of a TV do you need?! The task at hand asks individuals to compare the area of 80-inch and 55-inch TVs. The length of the TV is given and learners must use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the width to calculate the areas.
Shodor Education Foundation
Pythagorean Explorer
Make sure the measurement is right. The interactive provides right triangles with a missing side measurement. Pupils use the given sides and the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the length of the missing side. After entering the length,...
CK-12 Foundation
Distance Formula: Right Triangles
Go the distance with a far out resource. Individuals use an interactive to create right triangles on a coordinate plane to help find distance between two points. Challenge questions aid them in developing the distance formula.
EngageNY
Applications of the Pythagorean Theorem
Begin seeing the world through the lens of geometry! Use the 19th installment in a 25-part module to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to solve real-world problems. Individuals sketch situations resulting in right triangles such as the...
EngageNY
Distance on the Coordinate Plane
Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to coordinate geometry. Learners find the distance between two points on a coordinate plane by using the Pythagorean Theorem. The vertical and horizontal change creates a right triangle, which allows...
EngageNY
Pythagorean Theorem, Revisited
Transform your pupils into mathematicians as they learn to prove the popular Pythagorean Theorem. The 16th lesson in the series of 25 continues by teaching learners how to develop a proof. It shows how to prove the Pythagorean Theorem...
EngageNY
End-of-Module Assessment Task: Grade 8 Mathematics (Module 7)
It's time to discover what your classes have learned! The final lesson in the 25-part module is an assessment that covers the Pythagorean Theorem. Application of the theorem includes distance between points, the volume of...
EngageNY
Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem
Discover a new application of the Pythagorean Theorem. Learners prove and apply the converse of the Pythagorean Theorem in the 17th lesson in a 25-part series. The examples ask learners to verify right triangles using the converse of the...
Balanced Assessment
Marbles in a Glass
Allow learners to design their own strategies to solve a problem. Given dimensions of a glass and a smaller marble, scholars must find the dimensions of a larger marble. The answer key suggests using the Pythagorean Theorem, but multiple...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Discovering the Pythagorean Theorem
Young mathematicians join the ancient order of the Pythagoreans by completing an assessment task that asks them to find the area of tilted squares on dot paper. They then look at patterns in the squares to develop the Pythagorean Theorem.
Mathematics Assessment Project
Geometry
Help learners find joy in facing mathematical challenges. The questions posed on this activity encourage young mathematicians to utilize skills learned throughout a geometry unit, and to apply themselves and persevere through problem...
University of Utah
Geometry: Angles, Triangles, and Distance
The Pythagorean Theorem is a staple of middle school geometry. Scholars first investigate angle relationships, both in triangles and in parallel lines with a transversal, before proving and applying the Pythagorean Theorem.