Geometer's Sketchpad Lessons and Activities

Geometer's Sketchpad lessons and activities

Rhythmic Approach to Geometry

http://www.public.asu.edu/%7eaaafp/rhythm.html

Dynamical capabilities of Geometer's Sketchpad are used to generate parabolas, pursuit curves, spirals, and caustics. Students can develop familiarity with these curves before the abstract treatment they will encounter in later years.

The interactive figures on these web pages correspond to the figures in the paper "A rhythmic approach to geometry", written by Alfinio Flores, published in Teaching Mathematics in the Middle School, 7, 378-383 (March 2002).

Abstract

Exploring Geometric Constructions of Parabolas

http://www.teacherlink.org/content/math/activities/skpv4-parabola/home.html

This activity is an introduction to geometric constructions of parabolas. Students investigate the properties and characteristics of parabolas. This activity has been adapted from the following article: Olmstead, E.A. (1998). Exploring the locus definition of the conic sections. Mathematics Teacher, 91(5), 428-434.

Platonic Solids

http://whistleralley.com/polyhedra/platonic.htm

Find the inradius, circumradius, dihedral angle, surface area, and volume of all of the Platonic solids. There is also some information about some of their other interesting properties.

The Geometer’s Sketchpad Workshop

http://whistleralley.com/GSP/sketchpad.htm

The purpose of this page is to share ideas with users of the Geometer’s Sketchpad, with special emphasis on the new features of version 4.

The Geometer's Sketchpad Introductory Lab

http://mathforum.org/sketchpad/intro/gsp.introlab.html

The purpose of this lab is to help you become accustomed to using the Geometer's Sketchpad (GSP).

The Geometer's Sketchpad Spirograph Lab

http://mathforum.org/sketchpad/intro/cusplab.toc.html

This lab studies the effects (both mathematical and artistic) of circular motion as points rotate around circles. Interesting things occur when a point moves around a circle as the circle rotates around another circle.

GSP Assessment quiz

http://mathforum.org/sketchpad/intro/gsp.quest.html

Designed to be used in conjunction with Mike's Introductory Lab and Spirograph activities

The Geometer's Sketchpad and Tessellations

http://mathforum.org/sum95/suzanne/tess.gsp.tutorial.html

Step-by-step instructions for tiling the plane using Sketchpad. Follow the link to student tessellations (http://mathforum.org/sum95/suzanne/hawaii.html )from Punahou School in Honolulu, HI.

Grade 6 Lesson Plans

http://www.math.byu.edu/~lfrancis/readings302/GSP/GSPLessonPlans/GSPGrade6LP.html

http://www.math.byu.edu/~lfrancis/readings302/GSP/GSPLessonPlans/GSPLessonObj.html overview of objectives

Lesson 1 - Labelling angles, recognizing parallel and perpendicular lines
Lesson 2 - Classification of triangles by angles and sides
Lesson 3 - Classification of quadrilaterals
Lesson 4 - Congruent angles
Lesson 5 - Perimeter of triangles, rectangles, and composite figures
Lesson 6 - Area of triangles and rectangles
Lesson 7 - Turns and Flips of geometric figures

Grade 7 Lesson Plans

http://www.math.byu.edu/~lfrancis/readings302/GSP/GSPLessonPlans/GSPGrade7LP.html

Lesson 1 - Review of Geometer's Sketchpad
Lesson 2 - Perimeter of a polygon
Lesson 3 - Area of a polygon
Lesson 4 - Classification of angles
Lesson 5 - Congruent figures
Lesson 6 - Congruent line, angles, and figures
Lesson 7 - Classification and properties of parallelograms

Grade 8 Lesson Plans

http://www.math.byu.edu/~lfrancis/readings302/GSP/GSPLessonPlans/GSPGrade8LP.html

Lesson 1 - Use of geometric symbols and definitions related to triangles
Lesson 2 - Classification and drawing of different kinds of angles
Lesson 3 - Using the Pythagorean theorem to solve right triangles
Lesson 4 - Identification of opposite, adjacent, complementary, and supplementary angles, bisection of angles
Lesson 5 - Finding the areas of triangles, trapezoids and circles.

Grade 6 activities

http://www.hpedsb.on.ca/sg/quinte/grade_6.htm

Grade 7 activities

http://www.hpedsb.on.ca/sg/quinte/grade_7.htm

Grade 8

http://www.hpedsb.on.ca/sg/quinte/grade_8.htm

Geometer's Sketchpad

http://www.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/teacher_res/secondary/tecint/gsp.htm

Developed for geometry exploration and modeling, students can use the flexibility and reach of Geometer's Sketchpad™ (GSP) to explore algebra, trigonometry, calculus, art, science, and more.

A Slice of Pi
This project studies how pi has been computed throughout history, including current connections between pi and geometry. A first-time viewer should start with the "Historical Overview", which ties the project together as a timeline about pi.
http://www.geom.umn.edu/~huberty/math5337/groupe/

Symmetry
This site is designed for students and teachers interested in exploring symmetry (grades 7-12). It contains lesson plans, definitions, examples, activities, and links to other web sites. There is also some extension activities for those who would like a challenge.
http://www.geom.umn.edu/~demo5337/s97a/

Tessellations
A tutorial to create Escher-like tessellations using The Geometer’s Sketchpad.
http://mathforum.org/sum95/suzanne/tess.gsp.tutorial.html

http://www.primaryschool.com.au/mathematicsresults.php?strand=Space%20and%20Geometry&unit=2D&grade=56

Tessellations using GSP

http://www.mste.uiuc.edu/courses/ci336kt/garrison/skpdindx.html

downloadable 30 day eval at http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/learningmath/geometry/session4/part_a/tutorial.html

Intro to GSP

http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/learningmath/geometry/session4/part_a/index.html