LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Goal 3

Geometry -The learner will understand and use properties and relationships of geometric figures in the coordinate plane.

Objective 3.04

Solve problems involving geometric figures in the coordinate plane.

Resources aligned to this objective

Translations, reflections, rotations
This lesson will allow students to explore translations, reflections, and rotations using a resource of Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. Permission has been granted for the use of the materials as part of the workshop Interactivate Your Math Students. Students explore the world of translations, reflections, and rotations in the Cartesian coordinate system by transforming squares, triangles and parallelograms. Parameters: Shape, x or y translation, x or y reflection, angle of rotation. (Italics are a direct quote from Shodor.org.)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
By Deborah Bourne.
Perimeter and area around the North Carolina zoo
Students learn about perimeter, area and scale drawings of various geometric shapes. As they learn they apply their knowledge to different animal enclosures at the North Carolina Zoo. To gather information about design of animal enclosures the classes visit the zoo. The students then compile all they learned by creating a scaled drawing and model of an human habitation exhibit for a zoo.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics)
By Susan Hoercher.
Looking at things from different angles
This lesson will introduce students to angles using a resource of Shodor Education Foundation, Inc. Permission has been granted for the use of the materials as part of the workshop "Interactivate Your Bored Math Students."
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics)
By Beth Jorgensen.
Coordinate plane artwork
For this lesson students will go to the computer lab and use the General Coordinate Game applet created by the Shodor Foundation to obtain a more specific understanding of the coordinate plane, its parts, and how it can be used to graph points. Afterward, the students will practice using the coordinate plane by drawing a picture on a coordinate plane and then writing out directions (using coordinates) for that picture to be replicated exactly by another student, who will not see the picture but will follow the directions.
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics)
By Erin Foerster.

Resources on the web

When is a cube not a cube?
Students explore polyhedra using different representations and perspectives for three dimensional block figures. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Understanding congruence, similarity, and symmetry using transformations and interactive figures: Visualizing transformations
The interactive figures in this four-part example allow a user to manipulate a shape and observe its behavior under a particular transformation or composition of transformations. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Some “Escher” drawings
Students explore polyhedra using different representations and perspectives for three dimensional block figures. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Sizing up the solar system
Students use the internet to investigate and design various models of size and distance related to the solar system. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics and Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Purple Prisms
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students investigate rectangular prisms using an online, interactive applet. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The plus sign and triangle
In this lesson, students explore the concepts of identity, inverse, commutativity, and associativity. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Patterns and functions
In this lesson, students investigate properties of perimeter, area, and volume related to various geometric two- and three-dimensional shapes. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Moving cubes
Students explore polyhedra using different representations and perspectives for three dimensional block figures. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Measuring shadows
Students determine the pattern (length and direction) of shadows cast by sunlight during a several month period and develop an interpretation of the daily and seasonal patterns and variations observed. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6 Mathematics and Science)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Mat Plans
Students explore polyhedra using different representations and perspectives for three dimensional block figures. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Learning about length, perimeter, area, and volume of similar objects using interactive figures: Side length and area of similar figures
This two-part example illustrates how students can learn about the length, perimeter, area, and volume of similar objects using dynamic figures. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 4–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Go with green rectangles
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students manipulate 2-dimensional rectangles using an online interactive applet. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Finding the area of irregular figures
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students estimate the areas of highly irregular shapes and use a process of decomposition to calculate the areas of irregular polygons. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Finding satisfactory solutions
Students apply creative solutions to problem solving in the context of a story problem. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: American Association for the Advancement of Science
Exploring the isometric drawing tool
In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students explore using an isometric drawing tool and gain practice and experience in manipulating drawings. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–8 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Exploring histograms
In this lesson, from Illuminations, students create their own sets of data using an interactive data analysis tool. They then examine how various statistical functions such as mean, median, and standard deviation depend on the choice of data. (Learn more)
Format: lesson plan (grade 6–7 Mathematics)
Provided by: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics