Geometry is for Squares

What is the tool?

Geometry Sketchpad is a tool used to construct and manipulate geometric figures and discover relationships with geometric shapes and geometric angels. This tool is used to teach students that geometry is more than proofs and theorems. The activities from Geometer Sketchpad guide students in the construction and manipulation of geometric figures.

Who is the intended audience?

Teachers:

This tool is for teachers to use in their classroom in addition to a text book. Geometer sketchpad is a hands application tool for supporting some to the following topics of instructing:

Chapters include: Lines and Angles, Transformations, Symmetry, and Tessellations, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Polygons, Circles, Area, The Pythagorean Theorem, Similarity, Trigonometry and Fractals.

Students:

Students activities are designed specially for use in elementary and middle school classrooms. Includes teacher notes and activity sketches for such topics as counting by grouping, measuring, balancing equations, similarity, adding integers, areas of triangles, and circle vocabulary.

For example, students are able to plot points for constructing triangles or squares. Then, the students are able to move the line segments around after construction to see what happens to the shape.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the tool?

Advantages:

• Easy for teachers to use in addition to book


• Easy for students to learn to use the tool


• Plenty of additional classroom activities for students


• Geometer's sketchpad can be used in classrooms at all levels of math


• The information from Geometer's Sketchpad has been field tested in classroom activities.

Disadvantages:

• Teachers pay a fee for installation.


• Students for home use, pay a fee for installation.


• Students and Teachers need computers for classroom activities.


• Teachers and Students need some instruction before using the Geometer's Sketchpad tool.

Where can we learn move about this tool?

The Geometers sketchpad

Geomsketch

Advanced Sketch Gallery

What is your opinion on the usefulness of this tool?

This is a amazing tool that provides an extensive range of classroom activities. Also links a provides for technical support, instructional support, and classroom activities. Geometer Sketchpad is additional tool that teachers can use with their smart boards when instruction with any lesson related to a geometry topic.