Triangle Inequality Theorem Lesson Plan

Description of Resource: This lesson plan allows students to explore and discover the Triangle Inequality
Theorem. This lesson has an interactive component using physical manipulatives to assist students in
understanding the definition of a triangle in relation to sides.

Technical & Cost considerations: The lesson is free to access. The lesson does require materials in order to
perform the interactive aspect of the lesson; however, most can be obtained at little cost.

Evaluation
1. Learning Activity Types

 LA-Practice - practicing for fluency-

 LA-Present - (read or attend to) presentation of new content/ideas
o LA-Present-Demo - demonstration- Teacher will use demonstration before students investigate in
groups.
o LA-Present-Explain - explanation- Opportunity for teacher to go over the introduction of
concepts and identifying triangles. Students are asked to explain their results at the end of the
lesson.
 LA-Explore - exploring/investigating mathematical ideas- Exploring of triangles occur during the
interactive portion of the lesson. Students manipulate pipe cleaners representing sides of a triangle.
 LA-Apply - applying mathematics to problems and situations- Students use their results during their
exploration to formulate a pattern. Using the pattern formed and their own reasoning, students determine if
measurements of provided sides will form a triangle.
2. What mathematics is being learned?

Standards
Common Core State Standards – Mathematics

 CCSS.Math.Content.HSG.CO.C.10
Prove theorems about triangles. Theorems include: measures of interior angles of a triangle sum to 180
degrees; base angles of isosceles triangles are congruent; the segment joining midpoints of two sides of a
triangle is parallel to the third side and half the length; the medians of a triangle meet at a point.
 CCSS.Math.Content.HSG.SRT.B.4
Prove theorems about triangles. Theorem include: a line parallel to one side of a triangle divides the other
two proportionally, and conversely; the Pythagorean Theorem proved using triangle similarity.

Proficiency Strands

 conceptual understanding- Students use manipulative to explore the side lengths of triangles.
 strategic competence- Students begin by hypothesizing sides that can make triangles and they explore
with manipulative to determine patterns.
 adaptive reasoning- Students use logical thought to reflect and reason the definition of a triangle.

6. Additional Comments
I really liked that students got an opportunity to explore and determine patterns that are observed. This lesson does a
great job to incorporate individual work and allow collaboration during group work.