How about some similar triangle work on the Discovery Toys Giant Pegboard?
Not only is this video about triangles that are similar, but this video about triangles is similar to other videos! (Is that fun to say or just annoying?)
Here it is:
What do you think? What other triangle things can you do with a pegboard?
Do your kids get confused between congruent and similar triangles? Do you?
In a previous post, I made this mistake when discussing right triangles on the Giant Pegboard. If a mathematician can make the error, then it is easy for a kid to, also.
In the video I said “congruent” when I meant “similar.” Two triangles are congruent if they are the same size and shape. They are similar if they are the same shape (and maybe or maybe not the same size).
One way to show that two triangles are congruent is to use the SSS Theorem or the “side side side” theorem. This says, essentially, that…
This ensures that your two triangles are congruent – or as a kid might say it “exactly the same.”
Here’s how to use the Discovery Toys Giant Pegboard to play around with congruent triangles:
What do you think? Can you use this? Give it a shot!
Check out the next post for a video discussion on similar triangles.
I hosted a Discovery Toys party the other day and ended up explaining how to use many of the toys for teaching math.
Alas, here I am now doing videos of the same. I can’t get over these toys. They are designed proportionally (the cups and weighing ones) and always with the thought “How can this be fun at the same time it’s teaching something.”
Of course, all toys teach. But the designers of these toys put the extra oomph into the thinking process so that when a kid asks “why?” there’s an easy way for the parent to answer.
Oh – and they are guaranteed for life!
So from here out, I’ll be doing occasional videos on how to use them.
The first is about right triangles on the Giant Pegboard. Notice in the video that when I say “congruent triangles” I really mean “similar triangles“.
See what you think:
Have you played with triangles and pegboards? What other ways can you use them to teach and learn?
Disclaimer: I tried to become an affiliate of these toys to help pay for this blog. Alas, they don’t have an affiliate program. The only way was to become an official consultant. These toys are so cool and helpful, that I have done it.