Triangle Formation!
Grade Level:
6
7
8
9
Summary:
Students are challenged to illustrate and prove A^2+B^2=C^2 using just the students in the classroom.
Materials:
minimum of 12 students
25 "bodies" works best
masking tape (optional)
Students work in teams to understand a 3,4,5 triangle, and how this relates to the Pythagorean Theorem. Students can lay on the ground, forming this triangle. All students can get up, and side A (3 bodies) can square itself, making a group of 9 students. Side B (4 bodies) can square itself, making a group of 16 students. Add the group of 9 to the group of 16, and see that you have 25 students. disperse the group, and have them illustrate side C (5 bodies) squared.
Source:
Birdie Champ, M. Ed., Amherst
