Lesson Plans - Eisenhower (SAGA)

Dwight Eisenhower Mathemathics and Science Education Program
Strengthening Algebra and Geometry Achievement Project (SAGA)

Lesson Plans

The following materials were developed by the participants of Strengthening Algebra and Geometry Achievement Project (SAGA) - A workshop for Algebra I and Geometry Teachers using resources available to them. Under the instructions of Ms. Peggy Harrell (Mathematics Specialists from the Jefferson County School District) and Ms. Deborah O'Hara (Mathematics Teacher from Mt. Brook High School), the project participants developed these lesson plans which were adapted to their requirement.
These lesson plans are in Microsoft Works 3.0 - Wordprocessor (*.wps) format and compressed. Please note that some of the compressed lesson plans contain additional materials formatted using Pagemaker 5.0 (*.pm5).
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Education or the Alabama Commision on Higher Education, and no official endorsement by either of these agencies should be inferred.

Lesson Plan 1
Title: Points, Lines & Planes
Author: Cassie Ball, Midfield High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to allow students to demonstrate an understanding of points, lines and planes.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File01.zip - 3.26 K

Lesson Plan 2
Title: The Pythagorean Theorem
Author: Cassie Ball, Midfield High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to reinforce the algebra student's understanding of the Pythagorean theorem.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File02.zip - 1.74 K
Note: Include a map drawn on a graph paper with a route that leads to a treasure chest.

Lesson Plan 3
Title: Convex Polygons
Author: Philip M. Ball, Wenonah High School
Overview: The purpose of this lesson plan is to help students derive the theorem that the sum of the interior angles of a convex polygon is represented by the formula(n - 2) x 180. The students will have to have the prior knowledge that the sum of the angles of a triangle is 1800. Once the students discover the patterns of triangles and the number of sides, they will be able to derive the formula(n - 2) x 180.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File03.zip - 3.65 K

Lesson Plan 4
Title: Triangle Classification
Author: Philip M. Ball, Wenonah High School
Overview: This lesson can be used as an activity to review the different types of triangles. The triangles that would be classified are as follows: scalene, isosceles, equilateral, acute, obtuse, right, equiangular, or a combination. Students tend not to remember the different types of triangles and what their properties are. This lesson also reviews vocabulary that is central to the remaining lessons in the book such as acute, obtuse, equilateral, and right.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File04.zip - 1.49 K

Lesson Plan 5
Title: Scrambled Geometry I
Author: Billy R. Davis, Fairfield High School
Overview: This lesson plan is intended help help the students develop the ability to identify and correctly spell geometry terms.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File05.zip - 6.93K

Lesson Plan 6
Title: Scrambled Geometry II
Author: Billy R. Davis, Fairfield High School - Many thanks to Kathy Barnes, Southside High School, Albany, Georgia, for this idea.
Overview: After this lesson, Algebra I students will understand that "pi" is a constant relationship between the circumference and the diameter of any given circle.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File06.zip - 12.85 K

Lesson Plan 7
Title: The Pythagorean Theorem
Author: Linda Duke, Shades Valley High School
Source: Algebra, Structure, and Method, Book I, Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
Overview: This lesson is designed to review the Pythagorean Theorem with the Algebra I students. It will provide them with a visual model of the theorem.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File07.zip - 1.99 K

Lesson Plan 8
Title: Ponder That Postulate
Author: Linda Duke, Shades Valley High School
Source: Geometry, Addison-Wesley, 1992.
Overview: This lesson is intended to give Geometry students the opportunity to become more familiar with postulates.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File08.zip - 2.33 K

Lesson Plan 9
Title: Puzzle Proofs
Authors: Lisa Facsina of Minor High School and Karen Gray of Hewitt Junior High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to help students better understand the sequence of steps and thought processes involved in 2-column proofs.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File09.zip - 1.37 K

Lesson Plan 10
Title: Marble Mania: An Introduction to Probability
Authors: Lisa Facsina, Minor High School and Karen Gray, Hewitt Junior High School
Overview: Students will use simulation to find the experimental probability of an event. A specified number of marbles will be placed in a box. Students will try to determine how many of each color is in the box.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File10.zip - 4.58 K

Lesson Plan 11
Title: The Solid Connection
Authors: Lisa Facsina, Minor High School and Karen Gray, Hewitt Junior High School - Many thanks to Diane McDaniel of Vestavia High School for this idea.
Overview: This project is designed to familiarized students with the 5 platonic solids and other 3 dimensional figures.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File11.zip - 2.53 K

Lesson Plan 12
Title: Elevating Trigs
Authors: Lisa Facsina, Minor High School and Karen Gray, Hewitt Junior High - Many thanks to Carol Edwards, Hewitt Trussville Junior High, for this idea.
Overview: This lesson is a cooperative learning lesson designed you demonstrate a real life application of geometry by integrating the right triangle definitions of trigonometric functions and key physical science concepts. Students will determine a specified angle of elevation when given one side and the hypotenuse of a right triangle. They will drop a tennis ball through a hollow cylinder. Then they will time how long it takes the ball to roll out the other end. This lesson can be extended into a graphing calculator lesson.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File12.zip - 8.57 K

Lesson Plan 13
Title: Number Properties Teach Them! Learn Them! Use Them! Review Them!
Author: Sabine Goetz, Hewitt-Trussville Junior High
Overview: This lesson plan will help students to recognize and use number properties as justifications in algebraic proofs and work cooperatively to complete activities.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File13.zip - 44.09 K
Note: This file includes six attachments of "Taboo Card" created using PageMaker 5.0

Lesson Plan 14
Title: Geoboards Slates to Teach Slope!
Author: Sabine Goetz, Hewitt-Trussville Junior High
Overview: This lesson plan is intended to help students to apply the terminology associated with Cartesian planes to graphing of equations, graph a line when conditions are given, and understand the slopes concept with the use of geoboard.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File14.zip - 8.35 K

Lesson Plan 15
Title: Operation Crossword
Author: Terrell Gowins, Ramsay High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to demonstrate and reinforce the rules for order of operations used in evaluating mathematical or algebraic expressions.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: Not available

Lesson Plan 16
Title: Architecture - Geometry to Algebra and Back
Author: Terrell Gowins, Ramsay High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to connect the basic vocabulary and concepts used in geometry to previous algebra concepts, to coordinate geometry and to geometric constructions. The lesson can be used at the beginning of a unified geometry course; in conjunction with coordinate geometry or geometric constructions.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: Not available

Lesson Plan 17
Title: Properties Of Rational Numbers (Without Numbers)
Author: Lillian Jeffers, Ramsay High School.
Overview: This lesson is intended to give students a better understanding of the properties of algebra which are our rules governing what kinds of changes we can make in algebraic or numerical expressions. The students must illustrate the properties without the use of numbers or variables. (Please note these exceptions: they are allow to use 0 on numbers 5, 7, 8, 10 ; and 1 on numbers 6 and 8). Instead of the usual letters which illustrate the properties, the students will use pictures, shapes, or objects.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File17.zip - 3.78 K

Lesson Plan 18
Title: Mystery Surrounds the Polygon
Author: Lillian Jeffers, Ramsay High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to give students a better understanding of polygons and develop an investigative approach to find the sum of the exterior angles of a polygon. The students will see how algebra skills can be used in geometry problems. Once the sum of exterior angles of several polygons has been determined, the student will see this is a constant value. The student will then be able to predict this sum for other polygons.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File18.zip - 9.09 K

Lesson Plan 19
Title: The Slope of A Line
Author: Linda C. Lawson, Erwin High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to give Algebra I students experience in finding slope.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File19.zip - 6.60 K

Lesson Plan 20
Title: Graphing Slope: Intercept Form of a Linear Equation
Author: Linda C. Lawson, Erwin High School
Overview: This lesson is written for students who have prior knowledge of slope and y-intercept.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File20.zip - 4.14 K

Lesson Plan 21
Title: "Let's Form An Image": From Intuitive to Analytic Understanding of Similarity
Author: Jo'Netta R. Maye, McAdory High School - This activity was presented in the May 1988 issue of The Arithmetic Teacher.
Overview: This activity should be presented after lessons on similarity among figures, transformation, and reflection in the x and y axis. Students will learn that in similar figures, angle size is preserved, all lengths are multiplied by a constant, and the ratios of corresponding sides are equal. Students will also transform images and find the reflection in the x and y axis.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File21.zip - 2.47 K

Lesson Plan 22
Title: "Rate That Song": Collecting and Analyzing Data to Model Linear Equations
Author: Jo'Netta R. Maye, McAdory High School - Many thanks to Brenda Terry, Tullahoma, TN, for this idea.
Overview: This activity should be conducted after discussing linear equations, slopes, and graphs (Students should also be familiar with scatter plots if Activity 2 will be conducted). This will give the Algebra I students experience in analyzing data, graphing and writing linear equations. This activity will also give the students the opportunity to examine relationship between variables, and to link the abstract lines of the slope and graphs to practical examples.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File22.zip - 4.65 K

Lesson Plan 23
Title: Inequalities in One Triangle
Author: Susan Robinson, Woodlawn High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to provide physical representation of the inequalities in one triangle. It is intended to be used in a unit where inequalities of and in triangles are discussed. The material is usually used in one lesson. You can relate it to your particular textbook.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File23.zip - 5.86 K

Lesson Plan 24
Title: "Birthing a Baby": The Development of The Circumference Formula
Author: Susan Robinson, Woodlawn High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to give geometry students in cooperative groups an opportunity to concretely examine the relationship between the perimeters of inscribed polygons and the circumference of a circle in which it is inscribed. The activity is intended to be cooperative in nature and use both tactile and kinesthetic approaches.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File24.zip - 9.30 K

Lesson Plan 25
Title: A Visual Concept of the Sum of the Exterior Angles of a Polygon
Author: Jimmie Nell Savage, Phillips High School
Overview: The purpose of this lesson is to provide visual conceptualization for geometry students of the theorem of the sum of the exterior angles of a polygon. The activities included should also lend themselves to an extensive vocabulary review.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File25.zip - 1.89 K

Lesson Plan 26
Title: An Introduction to Slope
Author: Jimmie Nell Savage, Phillips High School
Overview: The purpose of this lesson plan is to provide an introduction to the concept of slope. Students will be provided hands-on experience in determining the slope of several objects. Observations, measurements, collection of data, class discussion, and practice computing slope should be helpful in internalizing the students' understanding of the comcept of slope.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File26.zip - 2.61 K

Lesson Plan 27
Title: "Surveying Using Ratio, Proportion, and Similar Triangles"
Author: Faith L. Self, Jackson-Olin High School
Source: Surveying Instruments, Their History, and Classroom Use by Edmond R. Kelly, Ph.D.
Overview: This lesson is intended to give Algebra I students experience in using the concepts of ratio and proportion as they relate to similar right triangles. Students will be calculating unknown lengths of sides of triangles using ratio and proportion.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File27.zip - 7.99 K

Lesson Plan 28
Title: Writing Algebraic Equations for Problem Solving and the String Problem
Author: Faith Self, Jackson-Olin High School - Many thanks to David R. Johnson for the string idea.
Overview: This lesson is intended to give Algebra I students experience in writing equations (mostly linear) that will solve problems. They will use their equations to make predictions.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File28.zip - 16.05 K

Lesson Plan 29
Title: Properties of Parallel Lines Cut by A Transversal
Author: Alisa Smith, Pleasant Grove High School
Overview: This lesson plan is intended to help teachers to lead discussions about transversal lines and vertical angles with the use of geostrips or strips of construction paper.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File29.zip - 2.51 K

Lesson Plan 30
Title: Factoring Trinomials by One Method Teacher's Guide
Author: Alisa Smith, Pleasant Grove High School - Lesson originally developed by Marilyn English, Pleasant Grove High School, adaptation by Alisa Smith
Overview: Through teacher led discussion with illustrations, various forms of trinomials will be factored by using the same method.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File30.zip - 3.73 K

Lesson Plan 31
Title: Probability
Author: Katherine Spencer, Pinson Valley High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to give Algebra I students experience in finding the experimental probability and the theoretical probability in a an experiment several times and determine experimental probability. Following each time, the theoretical probability of that event will be examined. In each group of four, students should be assigned responsibilities to insure everyone's participation. If time is limited, some activities can be eliminated.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: Not available

Lesson Plan 32
Title: Teaching Absolute Value Inequalities Using Multiple Perspectives
Author: Katherine Spencer, Pinson Valley High School - Many thanks to Peggy Harrell, Jefferson County Math Resource Specialist for her terrific ideas.
Overview: This activity is intended to give Algebra I students experience in solving and graphing inequalities on a number line. It involves large group instruction and an activity that can be done in pairs if there ate not enough graphing calculators for each student to use.
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File32.zip - 9.98 K

Lesson Plan 33
Title: Tricks or Treats: Analyzing Card and Domino Tricks Using Algebraic Expression and Equations
Author: Lynn T. Speegle, Hueytown High School
Source: Catherine Mulligan's "Interest in Mathematics" in Mathematics Teacher, February, 1989.
Overview: This lesson will involve students in several activities involving the use of mathematical expressions, equations, problem-solving, analysis, conjecture/testing, and verbalizing.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: Not available

Lesson Plan 34
Title: I Walk the Line: A Lesson in Probability
Author: Lynn T. Speegle, Hueytown High School
Source: Max A. Sobel's and Evan M. Maletsky's "Experiment 1, Random Walks" in Teaching Mathematics: A Sourcebook of Aids, Activities, and Strategies.
Overview:
Subject: Geometry
Download File: Not available

Lesson Plan 35
Title: Using Patty Paper to Determine the Measures of Angles Formed by Intersecting Chords in a Circle
Author: Jo Stewart, Fultondale High School
Overview: This lesson is designed to help students derive the formula for finding the measure of an angle formed by intersecting chords in a circle by applying their understanding of central angle concepts.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File35.zip - 3.46 K

Lesson Plan 36
Title: Using Patty Paper to Determine the Measure of an Angle Formed by Secant Segments Intersecting in a Point Outside a Circle
Author: Jo Stewart, Fultondale High School
Overview: This lesson is designed to help students derive the formula for finding the measure of an angle formed by secant segments intersecting in a point outside a circle by applying their understanding of central angle concepts.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File36.zip - 2.98 K

Lesson Plan 37
Title: Determining the Area of a 45-45-90 Triangle, Knowing One Leg and Determining the Area of a 30-60-90 Triangle, Knowing the Shorter Leg
Author: Jo Stewart, Fultondale High School
Overview: Review 45-45-90 and 30-60-90 theorems and the formula for the area of a triangle, recognizing and applying patterns.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File37.zip - 8.50 K

Lesson Plan 38
Title: Area, Circumference and Pi
Author: Ruth Wilkes, Huffman High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to help the student understand the meaning of area, circumference, and pi.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File38.zip - 2.26 K

Lesson Plan 39
Title: Figures in Geometry
Author: Ruth Wilkes, Huffman High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to create an interest in Geometry and various figures relating to the subject.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File39.zip - 4.78 K

Lesson Plan 40
Title: "What's My Property?": An Algebra Game
Author: Ruth Wilkes, Huffman High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to motivate the students to learn properties of Algebra. The game is called "What's My Property?"
Subject: Algebra I
Download File: File40.zip - 1.85 K

Lesson Plan 41
Title: Surface Area
Author: JoAnn Yarbrough, Tarrant High School
Overview: This lesson is intended to show Geometry students how to find the surface area of polygonal figures.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File41.zip - 1.45 K

Lesson Plan 42
Title: Pattern Experiments
Author: Jo Ann Yarbrough, Tarrant High School
Source: Discovering Geometry by Michael Serra (1989)
Overview: This lesson is intended to show geometry students that patterns are a part of our life and show the idea of sequence.
Subject: Geometry
Download File: File42.zip - 13.17 K

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