Materials Needed:

• Right triangles made out of construction paper (various sizes)
• Rulers
• Pencils
• Scratch Paper

        First the students are shown an example of the pythagorean theorem and how it works.  They then get a variety of different right triangles.   They have to measure each side of the triangle with their ruler.  Calculations are then done to see if this theorem is correct for all right triangles.  We then join back up as a class and discuss our results.

Understanding:

    For homework the students have to explain why all right triangles can use the pythagorean theorem.  They then have to explain why any other type of triangle can not use the pythagorean theorem.