Learning Resource Type

Lesson Plan

Triangle Congruence with Rigid Motions

Subject Area

Mathematics

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

This lesson will provide instruction on proving triangles to be congruent using rigid motions. Using the concept of transformations, the students will be able to manipulate the triangle on the coordinate plane. When using the coordinate plane to test congruence, the triangle or other object will slide, rotate, or flip to map onto the other object. Sometimes, the student will use a combination of the transformations. 

This lesson results from the ALEX Resource Gap Project.

 

    Mathematics (2019) Grade(s): 09-12 - Geometry with Data Analysis

    MA19.GDA.25

    Verify criteria for showing triangles are congruent using a sequence of rigid motions that map one triangle to another.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:MA19.GDA.25

    Vocabulary

    • Corresponding sides and angles
    • Rigid motions
    • If and only if
    • Triangle congruence
    • Angle-Side-Angle (ASA)
    • Side-Angle-Side (SAS)
    • Side-Side->Side (SSS)

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Characteristics of translations, rotations, and reflections including the definition of congruence.
    • Techniques for producing images under transformations.
    • Geometric terminology which describes the series of steps necessary to produce a rotation, reflection, or translation.
    • Basic properties of rigid motions (that they preserve distance and angle).
    • Methods for presenting logical reasoning using assumed understandings to justify subsequent results.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Use geometric descriptions of rigid motions to accurately perform these transformations on objects.
    • Communicate the results of performing transformations on objects.
    • Use logical reasoning to connect geometric ideas to justify other results.
    • Perform rigid motions of geometric figures.
    • Determine whether two plane figures are congruent by showing whether they coincide when superimposed by means of a sequence of rigid motions (translation, reflection, or rotation).
    • Identify two triangles as congruent if the lengths of corresponding sides are equal (SSS criterion), if the lengths of two pairs of corresponding sides and the measures of the corresponding angles between them are equal (SAS criterion), or if two pairs of corresponding angles are congruent and the lengths of the corresponding sides between them are equal (ASA criterion).
    • Apply the SSS, SAS, and ASA criteria to verify whether or not two triangles are congruent.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • If a series of translations, rotations, and reflections can be described that transforms one object exactly to a second object, the objects are congruent.
    • It is beneficial to have minimal sets of requirements to justify geometric results (e.g., use ASA, SAS, or SSS instead of all sides and all angles for congruence).

    Primary Learning Objectives

    The student will be able to explain the techniques of transformations to prove triangles congruent.

    The student will be able to prove triangles congruent by SSS, ASA, SAS or AAS.

    Additional Learning Objective(s)

    The student will be able to explain the differences of each type of transformation.

    The student will be able to combine transformations to prove triangles are congruent.

    Procedures/Activities

    Before:

    1. As students are entering the room, the teacher will start the PowerPoint presentation on the interactive whiteboard. The first slide is the bell ringer.

    2. After three or four minutes has passed, the teacher will start the slides. The students will check their answers and make corrections.

    During:

    1. After the definitions, the teacher will begin the video from Khan Academy. (https://www.khanacademy.org/math/geometry/hs-geo-congruence/hs-geo-triangle-congruence/v/finding-congruent-triangles)

    2. The teacher can solicit comments and questions from the students. This will be the informal assessment.

    3. As the video is finishing, the teacher will pass out the practice sheets for triangle congruence from Kuta Software in the materials section. (https://www.kutasoftware.com/freeige.html) The worksheet is the following: SSS, SAS, ASA, and AAS congruences combined.

    4. The teacher will monitor the students as they are working and give one-on-one guidance. The teacher can place the students in groups to allow collaboration. Using their internet capable devices, the students can revisit the websites to look at examples. A peer-tutor will be very helpful for intervention. According to the explanation, the students may have different answers for congruence. The student must identify all the parts that are corresponding.

    5. The teacher will review the answers to the practice sheet.

    6. The teacher will begin the video from Watch Know Learn for transformations. (http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=18777)

    7. As the video is finishing, the teacher will pass out the practice sheet on transformation from Kuta Software. (https://www.kutasoftware.com/freeige.html) (All transformations combined)

    8. The teacher will monitor student engagement and make an informal assessment. The teacher can place the students in groups to allow collaboration.  If students need to use hands-on examples, then the students can cut out triangles and move them on the graph paper.  Using the devices, the students can revisit the websites to look at examples. A peer-tutor will be very helpful for intervention. According to the explanation, the students may have different answers for congruence. The student must identify all the parts that are corresponding.

    9. The teacher will call on random students to answer selected problems. If students have questions, then the teacher will explain solutions.

    After:

    The teacher will pass out the exit slip called “Exit Slip Transformations with Answers”. The students will turn in the exit slip as they leave the classroom. The exit slip will be the formal assessment.

    Assessment Strategies

    Informal:

    The teacher can monitor student work as he/she walks around the room during the practice sheets. The teacher can ask questions to see if the students understand the material and the directions. The teacher will review the practice sheets with the whole class and wait for questions and comments.

    Formal:

    The teacher will grade the exit slip.

    Acceleration

    The teacher will assign the following prompt to the accelerated students: "Explain why 'dilation' is considered a type of transformation and make an illustration to justify your answer." The student should explain that shapes being dilated are similar and the shape gets larger by a scale factor. 

    Intervention

    Students requiring intervention can be provided with one-on-one instruction. As the students work in groups, the teacher can reduce the number of problems or the teacher can extend the time for the assignment. The students may also revisit the videos for extra guidance. The teacher can allow the students to cut out triangles and move them manually on the graph paper.

    Approximate Duration

    Total Duration

    31 to 60 Minutes

    Background and Preparation

    Background/Preparation

    Teacher:

    The teacher will preview the PowerPoint presentation. The teacher needs to visit the website Kuta Software. Kuta Software has free worksheets that can be printed and copied. The teacher needs to preview the videos to determine when to stop and ask questions.

    Student:

    The student needs to be able to graph points on the coordinate plane. The student needs to be familiar with transformations and how triangles can be congruent. The three transformations are translation, reflection, and rotation. Three common ways to prove triangle congruence are as follows: Side-Side-Side, Side-Angle-Side, and Angle-Side-Angle.

    Materials and Resources

    Materials and Resources

    PowerPoint Presentation that will explain step by step during the class: "Congruent Triangles" (see attached presentation)

    Pencils

    Notebook paper

    Scissors (if necessary)

    Graph Paper (see attached file, make copies as needed)

    Exit Slip Transformations with Answers (see attached file make copies for all students)

    "SSS, SAS, ASA, and AAS congruences combined" and "All transformations combined" from Kuta Software (make copies for each student)

    https://www.khanacademy.org/math/geometry/hs-geo-congruence/hs-geo-triangle-congruence/v/finding-congruent-triangles

    http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=18777

    Technology Resources Needed

    Desktop computer with PowerPoint software

    Projector and/or interactive whiteboard for displaying videos and PowerPoint

    iPad, Chromebook, or MacBook for students to revisit websites used in class

    Websites:

    Khan Academy "Congruent Triangles"-https://www.khanacademy.org/math/geometry/hs-geo-congruence/hs-geo-triangle-congruence/v/finding-congruent-triangles

    Watch Know Learn- http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=18777

    Kuta Software (worksheet generator)- https://www.kutasoftware.com/freeige.html. The triangle congruence and transformation worksheets are on this page. The worksheets will open in another tab. 

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