Round and Round the Unit Circle

Resource ID#: 46782

Primary Type: Lesson Plan

This document was generated on CPALMS - www.cpalms.org

This lesson discusses the Unit Circle and how to use co-terminal and/or reference angles to find any angle on the Unit Circle. It is an extension of
trigonometric functions using the real number line.
Subject(s): Mathematics

Grade Level(s): 9, 10, 11, 12

Intended Audience: Educators

Suggested Technology: Computer for Presenter,

Internet Connection, Graphing Calculators, LCD
Projector, Document Camera, Speakers/Headphones,
Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Office, Computer Media
Player

Instructional Time: 50 Minute(s)

Freely Available: Yes
Keywords: unit circle, co-terminal angles, reference angles, radian, degree

Instructional Component Type(s): Lesson Plan,

Unit/Lesson Sequence, Worksheet, Assessment ,
Video/Audio/Animation, Formative Assessment,
Student Center Activity

Instructional Design Framework(s): Direct Instruction, Guided Inquiry (Level 3), Cooperative Learning
Resource Collection: CPALMS Lesson Plan Development Initiative

LESSON CONTENT
Lesson Plan Template: General Lesson Plan
Formative Assessment
Round and Round Bell Ringer.pdf
1. Teacher will present the lesson's bell ringer which asks students to find "c" in
with given values of a and b. The bell ringer also reviews prior knowledge on changing degrees into radians. The teacher will review these answers after students are
done to ensure understanding. Note: the bell ringer can either be broadcasted using the computer and projector, or via document camera.

Optional: If the teacher has the TI Navigator software/calculator system, the bell ringer can be entered into the software as a
document as either open ended or multiple choice questions and sent to the students for them to answer and send their answers
to the teacher. This provides immediate feedback as the software can grade the answers and the teacher can broadcast the
results instantly.
2. Teacher will facilitate Activity 1 and 2 in pairs and by using the guided questions to gauge student's understanding of the lesson.
Feedback to Students
1. Teacher will give students feedback for the bell ringer while reviewing the answers in class either orally as a group or via the TI Navigator software system (if applicable).
2. Teacher will give feedback to students while reviewing both Activity 1 and 2 and circulating through the room to check for understanding.
3. Teacher will give feedback to students on the summative assessment after it is graded.
Summative Assessment
Summative Assessment
The teacher can use the summative questions as exit questions (part of the closure questioning) or part of a unit assessment.

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Learning Objectives: What should students know and be able to do as a result of this lesson?
Students should be able to label angles on the unit circle graph using radians and degrees
Students should be able to define the ratios for all six trigonometric functions using the unit circle
Students should be able to explain why the unit circle allows r for positive and negative angle measures and contrast why right triangle trig does not
Students should be able to draw central angles given the radian measure
Guiding Questions: What are the guiding questions for this lesson?
1. How are sine, cosine and tangent restricted when using Right Triangle Trigonometry?
2. What is the Unit Circle? Describe how it used.
3. How are coterminal angles related?
4. How would the use of coterminal angles help to evaluate trig functions of any angle?
Prior Knowledge: What prior knowledge should students have for this lesson?
Right Triangle Trigonometry
Definitions of Radians, co-terminal angles
Understanding of positive and negative rotation of angles
Knowledge of the six trigonometric ratios
Teaching Phase: How will the teacher present the concept or skill to students?
Round and Round Timeline
1. Bell Ringer (may be broadcast via document camera or entered as a document in the TI Navigator software)
2. Review answers to bell ringer
3. Discuss and pose guided question #1 and 2 on how you would be able to find the angle measure of any angle in a circle
4. Activity 1: need unit circle graph paper and colored pencils - work through this activity with the students, they may work in pairs
Unit Circle Activity 1.docx
5. Discuss the process of Activity 1 and ask guided question regarding any patterns the students see with the trig ratios in each quadrant.
6. Lesson Notes: Trig Functions at any angle, discuss the information found at the website (notes can either be broadcast and have students copy them or have a copy
previously made for each student in the class for them to complete the examples)
Unit Circle Lesson Notes.docx
a) Discuss the Unit Circle and it's properties
b) Discuss the practice of using the Unit Circle and it's relationship to the real number line
c) Discuss and explain trigonometric functions as periodic functions
http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/unit-circle.html
7. Activity 2: Angle Relationships (give each student a copy of the tables to complete or broadcast the tables and have students complete the tables in their own
notebooks)
Angle Relationship Activity 2.docx
8. Discuss Activity 2 with students using the answers and questions provided
9. Lesson Wrap-up and Closure question: discuss the information found at the website (extension piece)
http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/trig-interactive-unit-circle.html
Guided Practice: What activities or exercises will the students complete with teacher guidance?
The following documents are for the Bell Ringer and Activity 1 and 2. Answers to the Bell Ringer and for Activity 1 are on page 2 of each document. All the documents can
be broadcast via document camera.

Round and Round Bell Ringer.pdf

Unit Circle Activity 1.docx
Angle Relationship Activity 2.pdf
Independent Practice: What activities or exercises will students complete to reinforce the concepts and skills developed in the lesson?
The Coterminal and Reference Angles worksheet is intended to be used as either an in-class activity (if time permits) or out-of-class activity for more practice. The teacher has
the option of assigning some or all of the worksheet to the students.
Page 1 and 2 of the document are to be copied for the students use. Page 3 and 4 are the answers to the questions are for the intended use of the teacher to review
with the students.
Coterminal Angles and Reference Angles.pdf
Closure: How will the teacher assist students in organizing the knowledge gained in the lesson?
As a wrap up to the day's lesson, the teacher can ask a closure question. Students may answer on a sticky note and place on the board as they exit the classroom or they
may answer as a group.
Closure Question:
How do you evaluate trigonometric functions by using the unit circle?

ACCOMMODATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Accommodations: All activities can be undertaken in pairs if necessary to accommodate students with difficulties.
Notes and directions will be written and projected using a document camera or the projector as reinforcement for all students, and especially for those with auditory
impairments.

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All instructions will be given in writing to students with needed accommodations.

Extensions: An extension of this lesson would be to have students complete the Unit Circle graph for all radians using special right triangles. (MAFS.912.F-TF.1.3)
Suggested Technology: Computer for Presenter, Internet Connection, Graphing Calculators, LCD Projector, Document Camera, Speakers/Headphones, Adobe Flash Player,
Microsoft Office, Computer Media Player
Special Materials Needed: Mobile Interactive Whiteboard (such as a Mobi Board) to use while teaching the lesson with the student notes.
TI Navigator Software and Calculator hardware (if possible)
Further Recommendations: The intended time frame for this lesson is one day in a 45 or 50 minute class period.

Additional Information/Instructions
By Author/Submitter
Lesson may align with the following standards of math practice:
MAFS.K12.MP.2.1 - Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
MAFS.K12.MP.3.1 - Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
MAFS.K12.MP.6.1 - Attend to precision.

SOURCE AND ACCESS INFORMATION

Contributed by: Jayne Baxter
Name of Author/Source: Jayne Baxter
District/Organization of Contributor(s): Volusia
Is this Resource freely Available? Yes
Access Privileges: Public
License: CPALMS License - no distribution - non commercial

Related Standards
Name
MAFS.912.F-TF.1.2:

Description
Explain how the unit circle in the coordinate plane enables the extension of trigonometric functions to all real numbers,
interpreted as radian measures of angles traversed counterclockwise around the unit circle.

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