Valerie's Math Class

This is the MOST successful lesson I taught because of the emphasis on conceptual learning. Students start with identifying opposite, adjacent and hypotenuse (pg 1). They practice pythagorean theorem to find the third side length. Pg 2 students measure side lengths and create ratios. Students next to each other have opposing investigations (1 and 2). They then compare their ratios and we talk about why we get the same ratio decimal even though side lengths are totally different - ANGLES! I then

Combination WS to solidfy understanding by combining all trig triangle problems. This includes problems using SOH CAH TOA, Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, and Special Right Triangles. Students pick which method works best. The final problem is one triangle where students have to find all 3 sides and 3 angles (with 1 side, 1 angle given). WORKSHEET INCLUDES answers at the bottom for students to make sure they are on the right track and KEY INCLUDED! Great way to solidify their knowledge.

Half sheet (to save paper) - First page is guided notes and three examples of the three ways to find the equation (1- given two points, 2-give slope and a point, 3-give x or y-intercept(s)). The back page is practice. KEY Included for the back page.

I used this lesson after my investigation to go from making 6 ratios to making 1. Then we did notes on finding side length given an angle and a side length. The back is practice doing both types with key included. Great lesson- most successful one I have taught!