Activity
Practical Application of the Pythagorean Theorem: Building a Slide Park
In this math lesson students with visual impairments design a slide park to reinforce their understanding of the Pythagorean Theorem.
- Student will be able to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to everyday situations.
- Prior knowledge calculating area and circumference
- Colored Markers, Dots, Tape to connect dots, (for drawing triangles)
- Straight edge ruler (large print or braille)
- Graph Paper (bold or raise lined)
- Vocabulary: Hypotenuse, Right Triangle, Triangle Legs, Pythagorean Theorem
- Review with the student The Pythagorean Theorem: Given a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sums of the squares of the two sides or a2 + b2 = c2
- Brainstorm with the student practical uses of the Pythagorean Theorem.
- The student should record his or her responses using the media of choice.
- If the student has difficulty coming up with ideas for practical uses of the Pythagorean Theorem watch the following video together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw9iKERLonc
- The student will be designing his/her own slide park. Attached are specifications for the slide park.
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Review with student the specifications for the slide park.
- Once the student is confident in their understanding, they should begin designing their park.
By Susan LoFranco
Attached File(s)
https://www.perkins.org/sites/elearning.perkinsdev1.org/files/BuildingSlidepark_0.pdf
