Iroquois Middle School

7th Grade Mathematics

MTH 101: Shapes and Designs

(3 Credit Hours; Fall I 2014)

Instructor:
Keri Adams
Email: kadams@cvs.k12.mi.us
Work Phone: 586-723-3825
Office Location: Room 125
Office Hours: By appointment only
Note:
If you have any questions and/or problems, email is the best way to reach me. I check email frequently
throughout the day. I will reply to email usually within a few hours, certainly within 24 hours. I will keep the
class informed of any schedule changes through Blackboard and via email.
Course Description:
Students taking this course will recognize, analyze, measure, and reason about the shapes and visual patterns
that are important features of our world. Students analyze the properties that make certain shapes special and
useful.
Course Objectives:
Students will learn:
How to sort polygons into classes according to the number, size, and relationships of their sides and
angles.
How to find angle measures by estimation, by use of tools like protractors and angle rulers, and by
reasoning with variables and equations.
Formulas for finding the sum of the interior and exterior angles in any polygon.
The relationships of complementary and supplementary pairs of angles, such as those formed by interior
and exterior angles of polygons, and in figures where parallel lines are cut by transversals.
How to apply and design angle-side measurement conditions needed for drawing triangles and
quadrilaterals with specific properties.
The symmetry, tiling, and rigidity or flexibility properties of polygons that make them useful in
buildings, tools, art and craft designs, and natural objects.
Course Information:
The course has been divided into eight weeks. The information about what is due each week is located on
Blackboard under the weekly assignments folder and also under the course outline on this syllabus. All
assignments must be submitted on Sunday by 11:59 pm each week.
Required Textbook:
Connected Mathematics 3 Grade 7: Shapes and Designs: Two-Dimensional Geometry by Lappan,
Phillips, Fey, and Friel. ISBN: 0-13-327447-0
Additional resources and handouts are available under assignments on Blackboard.
The textbook is divided into three main parts called Investigations. Investigation 1 develops fundamental
concepts, terminology and techniques needed to characterize size and shape of polygons, especially angles
measurement. Investigations and 2 and 3 develop and apply important properties of polygons in order to
explain tessellation, structural rigidity/flexibility, and symmetry.

Special Requirements:
Basic calculator
Angle Ruler and/or Protractor
Students need to have access to a computer and the Internet on a daily basis.
Ability to use a computer, access emails, use a web browser, Microsoft Word, Mathxlforschool.com and
Blackboard (course system).
Course Outline:
Week
Topic
1
Investigation 1: Family of Polygons
Sorting and Sketching Polygons
In a Spin
Estimating Measures of Rotations
and Angles

Lessons
Inv. 1.1
Inv. 1.2
Inv. 1.3

Assignments
Complete Introductory Discussion Post
Complete 1.1 ACE problems #1-4
Complete 1.2 ACE problems #5,7,8,9
Complete 1.3 ACE problems #10, 11AB,
12, 17
Complete Discussion Post
Complete 1.4 ACE problems #19-28
Complete 1.5 ACE problems #41-45
Take Investigation 1 Quiz
Complete Discussion Post
Complete 2.1 ACE problems #1,2,17,18
Complete 2.2 ACE problems #3-11

Investigation 1: Family of Polygons

Measuring Angles
Design Challenge I

Inv. 1.4,
Inv. 1.5

Investigation 2: Designing Polygons: The

Angle Connection
Angle Sums of Regular Polygons
Angle Sums of Any Polygon

Inv. 2.1
Inv. 2.2

Investigation 2: Designing Polygons: The

Angle Connection
The Bees Do It
The Ins and Outs of Polygons

Inv. 2.3
Inv. 2.4

Complete Discussion Post

Complete 2.3 ACE problems #12-13
Complete 2.4 ACE problems #14-15
Take Investigation 2 Quiz

Investigation 3: Designing Triangles and

Quadrilateral
Building Triangles
Design Challenge II

Inv. 3.1
Inv. 3.2

Complete Discussion Post

Complete 3.1 ACE problems #1-5
Complete 3.2 ACE problems #6-9

Investigation 3: Designing Triangles and

Quadrilateral
Building Quadrilaterals
Parallel Lines and Transversals
Investigation 3: Designing Triangles and
Quadrilateral
Design Challenge III
Final Week

Inv. 3.3
Inv. 3.4

Complete Discussion Post

Complete 3.3 ACE problems #10-16
Complete 3.4 ACE problem #17

Inv. 3.5

Complete Discussion Post

Complete 3.5 ACE problems #18-24
Take Investigation 3 Quiz
Take Final Test

Assignments and Due Dates:

ACE Problems: ACE problems are suggested for each investigation. These problems are not submitted for a
grade but are highly suggested for student completion as they serve the purpose of practicing concepts. These
are great resources to help prepare for Investigation quizzes.
Discussion Board Posts (10 points each): One important way to demonstrate your understanding of
mathematical concepts is the ability to communicate your thoughts to others. Each week you will be required to
post answers to questions on Blackboards Discussion Board regarding content covered during the week. Your
responses for all Discussion Board postings will be graded on the effort: 10 points for a strong response, 5
points for a satisfactory response, and 0 points for anything less than a satisfactory response. The weekly
questions are posted on the discussion board by week. Posts are due Sunday by 11:59 p.m. each week. No late
discussion board posts will be accepted.
Quizzes (40 points each): Three online open-book, multiple-choice quizzes will be taken through
Mathxlforschool.com. The purpose of these quizzes is to help you learn the material presented in the book
rather than for evaluation purposes. For this reason, the quizzes are open-book and open-note.
For each quiz, there is a one-hour time limit. Once you begin a quiz, you must complete it within the time limit
or you will lose credit for unanswered items. Do not use the "back" button; this will end your session. Once
you have submitted your answers, you will receive immediate feedback and be able to see which questions you
got wrong as well as the correct answer. You have two attempts per quiz and it must be completed prior to
11:59 p.m. on Sunday. If you have any technical difficulties while taking a quiz please send me an email.
Final Test (100 points): At the end of the semester, there is a final test. This serves as an opportunity for
students to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts covered in this course.
For this test, there is a one-hour time limit. Once you begin the test, you must complete it within the time limit
or you will lose credit for unanswered items. Do not use the "back" button; this will end your session. Once
you have submitted your answers, you will receive immediate feedback and be able to see which questions you
got wrong as well as the correct answer. You have only one attempt for this test and it must be completed prior
to 11:59 p.m. on Sunday. There will be no make-up exams and youll receive 0% if you do not take the exam
during the scheduled time. If you have any technical difficulties while taking a test please send me an email.
Grading Policy:
Component
Discussion Posts
Investigation Quizzes
Final Exam
Total Points

Points
@ 10 points each x 8 = 80 points
@ 40 points each x 3 = 120 points
@ 100 points
300 points

Grading Scale:
A = 90% or above (270 - 300 points)
B = 80%- 89% (240 - 269 points)
C = 70%- 79% (210 - 239 points)
D = 60%- 69% (180 - 209 points)
Failing 59% or below (179 points or less)

Student Learner Responsibilities:

It takes a lot of effort to be an online student. Due to the fact that attendance is not mandatory, you have to be
motivated and disciplined to keep yourself organized with assignments, discussion posts, quizzes, tests, etc.
You must schedule time away from your busy schedule to complete the work necessary for this course so you
will not fall behind.
In order to be a successful, active online student you must:
Check your emails and Blackboard on a daily basis
Check your grades regularly
Complete ACE problems
Participate in weekly discussion posts
Submit quizzes and final test through Mathxlforschool.com
Meet due dates
Instructor Responsibilities:
Just as I have my expectations of you, the following is what I will do to ensure effective teaching and learning is
occurring within the online setting.
I will check my email daily.
I will respond to emails within 24 hours.
I will post announcements and reminders weekly.