Download Mathematics Lesson Plan Format Teacher`s name: ____Kelly Beyer

Mathematics Lesson Plan Format
Teacher’s name: ____Kelly Beyer____ Date: ___________________
Subject: _geometry Grade Level: _6_ Topic: __Area of a triangle_
Lesson Topic
The formula for a triangle comes from the area of a parallelogram.
Essential Questions/Big Ideas:
1. How does the area for a parallelogram relate to the area of a triangle?
2. Does the formula work for any triangle?
Learning Objectives:
The students will….
 Understand
- why the area for a triangle is 1/2bh
- how to use the formula for the area of a triangle

Know
- the formula for the area of a triangle is A=1/2bh
- a triangle is half of a parallelogram

Be able to
- solve for the area of a triangle when given the base and height Application
- develop the formula for the area of a triangle from knowing the formula for the area of
a
parallelogram Synthesis
Virginia SOLs
6.11 The student will determine if a problem situation involving polygons of four
or fewer
sides represents the application of perimeter or area and apply the
appropriate formula.
National Standards (NCTM)
Grades 6-8
 ?????????
Student and Teacher Activities with Estimated Time Blocks:
Time
Teacher (what the teacher
will do)
Students (what
the students will
do)
Key instructional
questions
5
min
Hook:
The students will be given two
sheets of patty paper. First the
teacher will instruct that we
know the formula for a
parallelogram (and write this on
the board) but what about the
area for a triangle? Lets try to
make equal triangles so that we
can relate triangles to a
parallelogram!
The student will
hopefully fold the
paper in half and
realize that the
formula for a triangle
is half of a
parallelogram.
So if we know that the
area of the square paper is
bh what do you think the
area of the triangle is.
Student answers:
 Half of the square
Teacher response:
So how would we write
our formula…what would
we have to add into the
formula to make it half of
it?
Student:
½ bh
7
min
min
What about if it is not a right
triangle, can any triangle really
be made into a
parallelogram??? On the
second patty paper have them
cut out two of the same
triangles to try and make them
match up into a parallelogram.
This proves that any triangle is
half of a parallelogram
therefore the formula for area is
1/2bh.
The student will cut
out any triangles that
they choose and try to
make it into a
parallelogram.
Can any triangle be made
into a parallelogram?
Once they try, they will
figure out yes!
10mi
n
Hand out the note page and
go over the PowerPoint
which practices how to plug
in the base and height and
solve for the area of a
triangle
Have the students use patty
paper to cut out their own
triangle and label the base
and the height (measure
them with a ruler) and
exchange them with a
partner to solve for the area
The students will
take notes along
with the
PowerPoint
8
min
The students will
make and solve for
the area of
triangles
Materials Needed for the Lesson:
 Patty paper, note page, sissors
Resources:
 6th grade mathematics textbook; Houghton Mifflin Math
 Pre Algebra textbook; Holt Pre-Algebra
 Teaching Student-Centered Mathematics