Copy Any Polygon

Copy Any Polygon

We can employ the two skills we’ve been working on this week — constructing congruent segments and constructing congruent angles — to create a copy of any polygon. Use a straight edge to draw any polygon.  Here’s an irregular hexagon

Construct Congruent Angles

Construct Congruent Angles

Today we’ll be looking at another basic construction: congruent angles.  You can use this construction to copy any angle without using a protractor to measure. Begin with the angle you would like to copy. Draw any ray.  This will act

Construct Congruent Segments

Construct Congruent Segments

We’re working on geometric constructions in 6th and 7th grade this month, so I’m going to share with you some basic constructions, as well as related activities and example projects from my students. To begin with, we’ll simply draw a

Geometric Drawing

Geometric Drawing

This week, the big kids are working on their geometric constructions, mathematical drawings achieved with the use of only a compass and an unmarked straight edge. This is one of my favorite units to teach.  Mathematics in general is an

Hands-On History: Currency Inflation

Hands-On History: Currency Inflation

If you’re teaching your kids about finances and not talking about inflation, debasement, and fiat currencies, you’re really missing out on a golden opportunity. See what I did there? For a hands-on exploration, get two quarters: one dated before 1965

All Aboard!

All Aboard!

Albert Einstein said, “Play is the highest form of research.”  This is most true when our children play with toys that allow them to create, experiment, and solve problems. Our three-year-old is enchanted with his wooden train set these days.

Rise over Run Away!

Rise over Run Away!

Need to teach your big kid slope-intercept form but don’t really feel like explaining it?  Break out the ol’ TI 86 — or use the amazing free Desmos graphing calculator — and let her figure it out herself. Given the

Dice Challenge

Dice Challenge

Looking for a new game for your middle kids?  Make a dice tower.  They are allowed to walk around it but not to touch it.  The goal: Find the sum of all the faces that cannot be seen. This begins