If you could use a filler for those last 5 minutes of math class when the activity is done and the bell just needs to ring, I put together a PDF of links to different online math games.
The PDF is clickable, so that you can choose (or have students choose) a short game to fill those last few minutes.
The interactive math breaks board PDF is here in my Google Drive.
We finished up our introduction to geometry unit, and moved into coordinate geometry and the Pythagorean Theorem last week. First, we reviewed plotting coordinates. Then, we found lengths of vertical and horizontal segments in the coordinate plane. This week, students will learn about the Pythagorean Theorem and calculate diagonal segment lengths.
Since it has been a while since my students have plotted points in the coordinate plane, we started the unit with a fun coordinate plane secret codes activity.
Students got a code sheet to reference during the secret codes presentation. The presentation asked students to figure out what letter each symbol pair represented, then what 3-letter words. Above is one of the words questions.
The presentation is scaffolded with the x coordinates colored black for the first few slides to remind students to look at the x-axis first. Then, this extra coloring is taken away to better mimic the real coordinate plane.
As an aside, my classroom aide and I were talking about why students have trouble plotting points. My best guess (after trying to figure this out for the last 20 years) is that points are plotted x then y, but slope is found y then x. I think students confuse these two.
Then we moved into distance in the coordinate plane. I gave students a little segment lengths reference sheet for their notebooks.
We completed this distance in the coordinate plane worksheet together on the board that covers the lengths of vertical and horizontal segments. Students started to see the relationship between integers when finding distance. I let students know that they can always count the spaces between the coordinates, but that if they're feeling lazy, they can always subtract (like me!). We spent extra time on this because integers can often be a sticking point for students.
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| Pythagorean Theorem video |
- Geogebra Pythagorean Theorem link 1: Pythagorean Theorem animation showing the areas of a and b squared equal c squared with a slider
- Geogebra Pythagorean Theorem link 2: Lets you click and drag the sides of a right triangle to see the square areas made by the legs and hypotenuse.
- Geogebra Pythagorean Theorem link 3: This one lets you click and drag the vertices of a right triangle looking for Pythagorean triples
The template from the video is here in my Google Drive. I printed the second page in 3 different colors for the video. For students, they will color 3 areas (9, 16, 25) on the second page, cut them out, and paste them around the 3-4-5 right triangle on the first page to make the classic Pythagorean Theorem diagram.
As a reminder, students will get this Pythagorean Theorem reference sheet for their notebooks.
Then students will complete this Pythagorean Theorem in the coordinate plane activity, where they'll record coordinate points as a review and calculate diagonal segment lengths of right triangles. There's a more advanced version here where most triangle side lengths are all diagonals.
After this introduction, we may do a “2 truths and a lie”, an escape room, or play a game before moving on in our curriculum.
> Browse all Geometry Activities
Over the last few weeks, I've been making some new geometry activities to get ready for my new teaching assignment in the fall. It has been a while since I've taught high school geometry, and the students I will be teaching will need a lot of support. My students take geometry before algebra 1, which will bring a unique challenge. So I've been building up a collection of engaging geometry activities that get students thinking while also being fun.
Coming back to add this has become a VERY long post! All of my geometry materials are in this big High School Geometry Bundle. All new geometry materials will be added to the bundle. Additions are free to download.
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| High School Geometry Bundle |
After starting the year reviewing integers, order of operations, and the scientific calculator functions, we'll get into geometry fundamentals. We'll start fundamentals by identifying angles, lines, rays and line segments. Students will color this angles, lines, rays, segments worksheet.
Then will match drawings, symbols and names to complete this angles, lines, rays, segments matching activity.
Sometimes, I like adding mazes or other fun little activities to student warm-ups to help get pencils into hands when students enter class. Here I added a maze to our first intro to geometry warm-up with maze. There are a bunch of online maze generators to choose from that allow you to make mazes in different shapes.
When I posted an angles, lines, rays segments coloring sheet on social media, a teacher asked if I could also make a naming angles coloring sheet.
Whether students are rounding, comparing numbers, estimating, working with money, or multiplying by powers of 10, having a firm grasp of place value builds students' number sense and confidence in their math abilities.
This FREE 4-unit pack of consumer math warm-ups will get students thinking about real-world math as soon as they sit down for class. There are at least 6 warm-ups included for each curriculum unit listed below, along with answer keys:
Do your algebra students struggle with finding the increasing and decreasing intervals of graphs? This increasing and decreasing finder tool guides students where to look when finding the increasing and decreasing intervals.
Students watch the graph move up and down the ruler on the side.
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| domain and range finder tools w/ increasing and decreasing |
"These helped my algebra students so much! The directions on each finder were so helpful...especially when the graph has arrows and not endpoints." - Elizabeth Y
The increasing and decreasing tool was added to a similar domain and range finder tool that guides students where to look when finding domain and range. See the domain & range / increasing & decreasing tools here.
The brain is a funny thing. We've evolved these giant frontal lobes that can plan years in advance, but throw in a bit of test anxiety and we're suddenly running from a lion at dusk. When the brain detects danger, that massive frontal cortex shuts off and is just there taking up space.
If I had to estimate, every single student I have ever had in any of my special education math classes has had some level math anxiety. I have my theories as to why this is, but in this post I want to instead focus on ways to help students overcome this anxiety when taking tests so that they don't doubt their answers.
I asked teachers on Facebook what they do to help students with this, and got a bunch of great advice. Their advice is below. If you'd like to read the original thread, it's here.
