Introduction to Right Triangle Trigonometry Lesson Plan

Note: This days lesson is Part 2 of 2 of an overall lesson introducing students to trigonometric ratios.

Name: _Autumn Langner

Subject: __ Geometry

Grade: _______10th_______
Date: ___________________

Understand the meaning of SOH CAH TOA and its ratios.

Lesson
Objectives

National/State
Standards

Solve problems using trigonometric ratios.

Use a scientific or graphing calculator to solve problems involving trigonometric ratios.

AL COS 19)

Understand that by similarity, side ratios in right triangles are properties of the
angles in the triangle leading to the definitions of trigonometric ratios for acute
angles.
[G-SRT6]

AL COS 20)

Explain and use the relationship between the sine and cosine of complementary
angles. [G-SRT7]

Materials/
Equipment

Document camera (ELMO)

Pencil and paper
Triangle Sheets A-G see attachments (Each triangle sheet should be carefully cut out and
its 8 triangles placed in Ziploc baggies)
Calculating Ratios for Similar Triangles worksheet (one per group)
Class graph template (3 copies one for each trig ratio)
Triangle Sheet C AND G (Complementary angled triangles)
SOH CAH TOA Practice worksheet (for in class practice)

Key Vocabulary:
Opposite, adjacent, theta, trigonometry, complementary angles
Starter: Collaborative Learning Activity
Students will be in the same groups as the previous day for this starter.
Students will work in groups to complete the Calculating Ratios for Similar Triangles worksheet
that they began yesterday. Students should find that the ratios for the various sized triangles are the
same.

Pre-Instructional
Activities

In each group there is a:

Task master member who organizes and leads group discussion, gathers materials, and
keeps group on task and monitors time
Think master - member who ensures that all group members understand the process, asks
questions of the teacher after all group members have been consulted, and returns any
materials
Recorder member who records all drawings and process that will be shared with the
class/teacher and ensure input from each group member
Reporter member who reads instructions, reports group findings and explain any
drawings/processes to class, and answers questions that the class may ask
Accommodations: Be selective in who you assign to think master and recorder. For those with SLDs,
reporter or task master might be the most appropriate roles

After each group has presented, note that the triangles with the same ratios also have the same
angles. Explain to the students that the ratios have special names, sine, cosine, and tangent. These
are all part of trigonometry. Present students with the term SOH CAH TOA and a mnemonic that
accompanies it: Some Old Horse Caught Another Horse Tripping Other Animals. Establish the
relationships of sine, cosine, and tangent and their trigonometric ratios.
Accommodations: Provide a graphic organizer/ foldable that breaks down the trigonometric ratios
and organizes them into an easy to read visual guide.
To further extend the ideas that accompany sin, cos, and tan, have each reporter plug their mean
values into the Class graph template. Graphs should be labeled from lowest degree to highest.
Students should form relationships between how sin, cos, and tan change as angle size gets smaller
or larger.
Teaching

Pose the following scenario: Lets look at the sine and cosine of complementary angles. What are
complementary angles? (2 angles whose sum is 90). If you are in group C, please bring me your C4
and C6 triangles. If you are in group G, please bring me your G4 and G6 triangles. What is the theta
value for the C triangle? For the G triangle? So are they complementary angles? (Yes). Place the
triangles together as in the Triangle C AND G Sheet. What relationships do you notice? Answers
may vary. Prod them to discover the relationship between the sine and cosine of complementary
angles. Why do you think this is?
Distribute the SOH CAH TOA practice worksheets.
We Do Problem #1 on the SOH CAH TOA practice worksheet
Technology Integration: Teach students to plug in trigonometric functions into scientific/graphing
calculators
Yall Do Problem #2
You Do Problem #3

Closure

Formative assessment: Clickers - Technology integration: Socrative app/website

Students will use their devices and the Socrative app to act as clickers in an exit slip to end the
lesson.
Homework: SOH CAH TOA Practice worksheet problem #s 10, 11, 14, 17, 24, 25

Accommodations

Bibliography

Have students placed in groups to work together in strategically assigned groups to help
those who struggle with math reasoning skills
Provide a graphic organizer/foldable to help students with note-taking when introducing the
trigonometric ratios

http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/secondary/mathematics/years7_10/teaching/trig.htm