Subject: Math, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

Lesson Length: 45 mins - 1 hour

Topic: Math, Geometry, Triangles, Similarity, Slope

Grade Level: 6, 7, 8

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Students will create a comic that uses similar triangles to explain why the slope is the same between any two distinct points on a non-vertical line in the coordinate plane.

Know Before You Start: Students should be able to identify characteristics of similar triangles and understand the relationship between the slope of a line and the hypotenuse of a right triangle.

Hook:

  • Ask students:
    • “How do we know when two triangles are similar?”
    • “What is the slope of a line and how is it like the hypotenuse of a right triangle?”
    • “Why is it important to understand the relationship between similar triangles and points on a graph?”

Activity:

  • Have students discuss the relationships between similar triangles and what is necessary for triangles to be similar.
  • Have students discuss how points on a non-vertical or non-horizontal line form the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs parallel to the x-axis and y-axis.
  • Have students use these principles to formulate an explanation for why the slope is the same between any two points on a non-vertical line.
  • Have students create a comic that illustrates this explanation.

Closure:

  • Have students share their comics with the class or in small groups.
  • Have students discuss why it’s important to be able to communicate mathematical ideas in visual form.
  • Discuss alternate ways of explaining mathematical principles.
  • Emphasize that being able to clearly communicate mathematical ideas helps build communication and critical thinking skills.

Differentiation:

  • Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
  • Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
  • Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
  • Students may have varying degrees of detail based on their ability to visualize mathematical proofs.
  • If necessary, provide graph paper, grides, or printouts of similar triangles to provide hands-on examples before creating the comic.

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