Pa-ra-lel-o-grams
I've been obsessively using the TI-nspire as a discovery tool in my classes these last 2 weeks. In geometry, we just started parallelograms, and I wanted them to explore the 5 properties of parallelograms, and it worked great.
One extra thing that I'm excited about is that I had them hold up their closed fists, and I asked them to put up a finger for every syllable of "parallelogram". Five! Ohhh! Five properties. So. Every time they discovered a new property on the calculator, I had them run through the list so far and tick off a new finger for the newly discovered property. We did this until we got through all 5 properties. Woot! Memory tool. Hopefully, they'll remember that there are 5 and parallelogram has 5 syllables, and they can recite all the properties:
1. parallel opposite sides
2. congruent opposite sides
3. congruent opposite angles
4. supplementary adjacent angles
5. diagonals bisect each other
One extra thing that I'm excited about is that I had them hold up their closed fists, and I asked them to put up a finger for every syllable of "parallelogram". Five! Ohhh! Five properties. So. Every time they discovered a new property on the calculator, I had them run through the list so far and tick off a new finger for the newly discovered property. We did this until we got through all 5 properties. Woot! Memory tool. Hopefully, they'll remember that there are 5 and parallelogram has 5 syllables, and they can recite all the properties:
1. parallel opposite sides
2. congruent opposite sides
3. congruent opposite angles
4. supplementary adjacent angles
5. diagonals bisect each other
posted by Ms. Cookie | 9:33 PM
3 Comments:
I am also a high school math teacher and I am taking a technology class through Michigan State University. One of our tasks was to find a blog related to our subject area. I'm excited to find your blog! I love your idea for remembering the number of properties for a parallelogram - genius!
Great! Have you been exposed to the TI-nspire yet? I JUST got back from a regional conference and learned a ton of new things.
I have not been exposed to the TI-nspire, but from what I see online and read on your post - it sounds very neat! I wish I was in a position to be able to experience the calculators with you and your students. Good Luck!
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