Activity Overview
Using the USA TODAY® Snapshot "Dangerous Births," students will explore the geometric relationships of triangles using perpendicular bisectors of the sides, bisectors of the angles and medians of the triangle. They will explore the three concurrent lines formed that pass through a single point. Students will graph by using latitude and longitude coordinates to represent the location of capitals of countries.
Before the Activity
Provide one graphing calculator for each student. Each student should have a copy of the corresponding student activity sheet. Provide each student with the following calculator files (AppVars): CENTROID, CIRCUM, and INCENTER.
During the Activity
Have the students link their calculators and share the calculator files (AppVars) as part of the class period on the previous day or during the beginning of the class period when you are going to use this activity. (Ensure that graphing calculators have been updated with the latest version of operating system and Cabri Jr.) Review opening an AppVars using Cabri Jr. with your class before starting the activity.
Students can work individually or in groups to assist each other during the activity.
Have students discuss their discoveries while they work to better understand the relationships.
Before starting the AppVars, remind students to carefully read the opening screen and the activity pages.
After the Activity
Review student answers
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary