Dilations and Symmetry INB Pages

The last couple of lessons for my Transformations unit were dilations and symmetry.  

For dilations, I used my dilations foldable.  I gave students the small page with the vocab and definitions that they glued at the top of the page.  This foldable separates the properties and the examples.

The examples flap has two examples - an expansion and a contraction.  I don’t really go into any more depth than this with my students.  We will investigate it a lot more when I have them for Algebra 2 next year.

Then, we moved on to symmetry.  You can download the file here.  Line symmetry is not new for my students.  The top of this page took like 2 minutes.  Then, we talked about rotational symmetry.  After talking through the first two examples, I left them to work with their partners.  Then, we went over it together and I gave them the formula at the bottom of the page.  Most of my students had figured it out, even if they hadn’t written it down explicitly.

The last page in their notebooks for this unit was review.  I printed my transformations task cards and gave even student four.  I copied them at four per page, so they printed tiny enough for their notebooks.  Each student worked their problems.  Then, they switched notebooks and checked their partners work.  If they agreed, I double checked their answers.  If they disagreed, I checked or had them as someone else for input.  I LOVED using task cards this way, because I didn’t have to come up with additional examples and I already had them.

Reflections and Rotations INB Pages

In my Transformations unit in geometry, I taught translations first.  Then, I moved on to reflections and rotations.

My students learn about transformations in middle school, but they use words like “flip”, “turn”, and “slide”.  So if I can relate the academic vocabulary to the words they are used to hearing, the lessons go much quicker.  Once I reminded students that a “flip” is a reflection, we were ready to start plotting points.  We completed this foldable from my TpT store that gives examples for four common types of reflections.  The foldable gives the rules, but I also have my students write “count the distance away from the line” under each flap.  I give them a rule, because some students like having it, but really they don’t need them for reflections.  I also had to remind them about the equation of a vertical and horizontal line and the line y = x looks like.  I guess Algebra 1 was too long ago for some of them.

Then, I used this page as practice.  I’m less concerned about running out of pages in their notebooks now, so I’m starting to do many more “practice pages”.  I wish I would have done this from the beginning!

My rotations pages went so well!  First, I had my students complete the vocabulary and notation.  Then, we completed the accordion book together.  You can find it in my TpT store.

The first example in the accordion book doesn’t use coordinates.  I typically use patty paper, but I didn’t buy any this year :(  So, I turned the foldable under the document camera instead.  It didn’t work as well, but it got the point across.  When we moved to the coordinate examples, I told students they could turn their notebooks or follow the rules.  I was trying to give them options!

Next, I gave students some graph paper and a table.  I saw this page idea from Equation Freak and tweaked it only a little for my students.  I had them all draw a quadrilateral in the first quadrant.  Then, they were on their own to draw the three rotations and fill in the table.  I did not include 360 degree rotations.  I feel like it’s redundant.  This example was a little easy for my kids, but the bones are there.  I may need to tweak it a little bit to make it more appropriate for high school.

The last part of the unit was symmetry and dilations.

Transformations and Translations INB Pages

This year, I taught geometric transformations at the end of first semester.  It’s a unit that is easy to move around and I needed to fill a weird length of time before final exams.  I didn’t go as in-depth this year as I have in the past, but I will have the same students again next year for Algebra 2 and can fill any holes then.  

First, I started with a page to introduce all of the vocab that goes with the unit.  Straightforward, quick, and uninteresting.

Next, I taught translations.  This lesson always goes pretty quick.  It’s nice to start with an easy lesson like this one though, because you can use TONS of vocab and students can get used to hearing it throughout the lesson.  This page and the previous page are in my TpT store.  

Next, I have a practice page for translations.  I printed it on legal paper and cut it in half.  Have I mentioned my LOVE of legal paper for INBs?  Cut in half, it fits perfectly in a notebook and there is overall less wasted space.  This page is uninteresting, but worked very well.  I had my students complete it with their partners and we regrouped as a class to check it.

Reflections, rotations, dilations, and symmetry coming soon!

Relationships in Triangles INB Pages

I taught Segments in Triangles as a mini-unit this year.  I spent one day on midesgments and two days on altitudes, angle bisectors, perpendicular bisectors, and medians.  Then, I spent one day on the Triangle Inequality Theorem.  Then, review and test.

I used this flip book for all of the segments in triangles.  I used a powerpoint (which is unusual for me) to go through the vocabulary and examples.  It worked well in class and it was nice to not have to write so much while the students were writing.

Day 1 - Midsegments

We completed the midsegments tab in the flip book.  Then, I gave each student a paper triangle and had them fold the midsegment of the triangle.  They glued it onto the next page.  They added to this page as we went through the unit.  

After that, I had students complete this practice sheet with their partners.  We went over it as a class and I had them write out the Midsegment Theorem again at the bottom of the page.  Muscle memory.

Day 2 - Altitudes and Perpendicular Bisectors

I combined the perpendicular lines into one lesson.  First, we completed the tabs in the flip book.  Then, I gave each student a paper triangle.  I had them draw an altitude on the triangle using a notecard as a straight edge.  Some students had triangles with altitudes outside the triangle.  I had a student demonstrate trying to draw the altitude inside when it was supposed to be outside on the document camera.

Day 3 - Angle Bisectors and Medians

This day was the same as the others.  We completed the tabs in the flip book and I had students fold the angle bisectors of a triangle I gave them.  They added it to the paper folding page.

Day 4 - Triangle Inequality Theorem

I used a discovery activity at the beginning of this lesson.  I gave each student a small handful of Q-Tips and had them make a triangle.  I made a list on the board of side lengths.  Then, I had students make a three sided figure that wasn’t a triangle and I made a list of side lengths.  We did this a could of times.  Then, I had students make a conjecture based on the lists.  My students are very shaky with anything they have to do on their own, so this was a low pressure way to try help develop this skill.  Then, we completed the next two pages as a class and with partners.  (download page 1) (download page 2)

That was the entire unit.  I liked teaching it as a mini-unit.

#MathDollarDeals in December

Happy December!!

I don't know about you, but I'm SO excited that winter break is so close!  It's time for some rest, time with family, good food, and REST!

In the spirit of the season, some of my friends and I are putting TWO secondary math resources on sale for just $1 each Tuesday in December.

3 Ways to find the $1 Stuff

1. Check out the Pinterest board each week.
2. Search Teachers pay Teachers for the hashtag #MathDollarDeals.
3. Check out the list below!

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

Absolute Value Equations Flipbook

My interactive notebook pages for solving absolute value equations aren’t super fancy, but they got the job done!

I made a flip book to split the lesson into sections.  First, I reminded students of the definition of absolute value (they always seem to think it just means “positive!”).  

Next, I taught students how to solve absolute value equations where the absolute value was already isolated.  I had them highlight everything inside the absolute value bars to show it more clearly.  They thought it was stupid, until we moved to the last flap, which required students to isolate the absolute value.  I still made them highlight everything in the absolute value bars so every step, so that they could see when the absolute value was isolated.  I was trying to prevent them from immediately writing two equations.

On the next page, I had students do four practice problems.  They had to highlight on each problem and work with their partner.  Then, we would go over it as a class, and move on to the next problem.  Next year, I think I want to include two more problems on this page and have them be examples where students have to add/subtract AND multiply/divide to isolate the absolute value.

Systems of Non-Linear Equations Ladder Activity

In Algebra 2, I teach conics at the end of the year. I always include the section that includes systems of non-linear equations, because I think it’s a good review of systems of linear equations and also includes the new concepts. I love this ladder activity as a wrap up!

I let my students solve each system using any method they prefer. One of my favorite parts is watching them learn to figure out the most efficient method. Since all of the problems link together like dominos, students know if their answer is incorrect.  That totally frees me up from answering “is this right?” a zillion and a half times.

I like to copy it on colored paper so I can hang them afterward.  :)  You can find this ladder activity in my TpT store.