Right Triangles Unit

Mrs. GeometryTeacherFriend and I have been working hard on our Right Triangle Unit, which we start Tuesday.  She has been been doing a lot of work updating the homework assignments and I have been planning the activities and daily practice.  The goal is to make this a richer unit than it was last year.  It drives me nuts when we get to area and solids and students can't remember special right triangle rules.  This year, I'm going to try to make them practice, practice, practice.  I don't care if they can reason through it, I want it to be automatic as well.  

This is my entire unit plan for Right Triangles in high school geometry. There are notes, activities, quizzes, and tests listed. It is so helpful for teachers to see a sample unit plan!

Anyway, this is the plan for the unit.  It is a typical breakdown of what each unit I do looks like.  Believe it or not, this will suffice as my lesson plans for the whole unit (I don't have to turn in lesson plans.)  I do bell work at the beginning of every class.  I usually make it up every morning.  However, sometimes I have special bell work planned.  My class periods are normally 45 minutes, but occasionally we have block periods.

Day 1 - Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagorean Theorem Notes
Pythagorean Theorem Word Problem Task Cards - I haven't decided what I'm going to do with the task cards yet.  I'll probably decide on the fly.  I only have one set printed, so we'll probably play Scoot! or do white board practice.

A Peek Inside My Right Triangles Unit - Freebies Included!

Day 2 - Converse of the Pythagorean Theorem 
Mini-Lesson (Reminder) of Simplifying Radicals  - We'll just work through these problems together.
Converse of Pythagorean Theorem Notes

Day 3 - Similar Right Triangles
Simplifying Radicals Matching Cards  - (as long bell work) They'll work with their partners and go through each set matching a radical expression to it's simplified version.
Similar Right Triangles Notes - This lesson takes FOREVER because the kids have a really hard time remembering the relationships.  It will take more than half of the class period, but that's ok.

A Peek Inside My Right Triangles Unit - Freebies Included!

Day 4 - Review
Start Homework in Class

A Peek Inside My Right Triangles Unit - Freebies Included!

Day 5 - 45-45-90 Triangles
Short Discovery Activity
45-45-90 Triangles Notes
Start Homework in Class

Day 6 - 30-60-90 Triangles (75 minute class period)
30-60-90 Triangles Notes
Special Right Triangles Trashketball 

Day 7 - Review
Day 8 - Mid-Unit Test

Day 9 - Tangent Ratio
Short Discovery Activity
Tangent Ratio Notes
Start Homework in Class

Day 10 - Sine, Cosine, Tangent
Sine, Cosine, Tangent Notes

Day 11 - Angles of Depression and Elevation
Short Trig Ratios Quiz
Angles of Depression and Elevation Notes

Day 12 - Review
Day 13 - Unit Test

Phew!  It really took a lot of planning.  The students have homework every night.  We changed a lot of the textbook problems, so we had to type up new homework keys for all of the assignments.   #teacherproblems

This is my entire unit plan for Right Triangles in high school geometry. There are notes, activities, quizzes, and tests listed. It is so helpful for teachers to see a sample unit plan!

If you're teaching right triangles anytime soon, I hope it helps to get a glimpse into my class :)  Do you have anything you especially like to do during this unit?