Geometry

Mr. Nicholas Yates

Mathematics and Engineering Teacher
Patterson High School, Transportation & Engineering Academy, Room 110
2010-2011, 1st Semester

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Mr. Yates e-mail: math.with.mr.yates@gmail.com
Mr. Yates cell phone: (443) 462 – 9049
Patterson main office phone: (410) 396 – 9276

COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This course will provide students with a strong foundation in using the tools of math in
everyday life, and in understanding patterns in the world around them. It will teach
skills such as measurement, spatial reasoning, geometric problem-solving, and
argument/proof. This class will have a strong focus on developing mathematical literacy
skills through reading, writing, and research, and will also frequently revisit math topics
from Algebra I and Data Analysis in a geometric context. For many students, this
course is a prerequisite for the study of advanced algebra, trigonometry, probability and
statistics, business math, and/or calculus classes that build on the foundations of
geometry.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Geometry is the study of visual patterns and spatial relationships. We will focus on the
everyday applications of geometry and geometric skills, including the use of tools to
measure and estimate data, the recognition of patterns and geometric transformations,
the visualization and sketching of objects and situations, the use of formulas and
algebra to solve spatial problems, and the use of proof in reasoned argument.
Geometry will also be used to develop general skills of effective thinking, including
imagination, abstraction, persistence, and active learning. All of these skills are
increasingly necessary in our modern mathematical world, but are also timelessly
valuable in understanding what the scientist Galileo called “this grand book the
universe, which stands continually open to our gaze. But the book cannot be
understood unless one first learns to comprehend the language and to read the
alphabet in which it is composed. It is written in the language of mathematics, and its
characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures.…”

COURSE OUTLINE:
1st Quarter: PATTERNS & MOTION 2ndQuarter: CONSTRUCTION & MEASUREMENT
 Measurement Boot Camp What is Measurement?
 Symmetry Constructing Triangles
 Transformations Reasoning & Geometric Proof
 Tessellations The Pythagorean Theorem
 Similarity & Self-Similarity Trigonometry: SOHCAHTOA
 Sierpinski & Koch Fractals Constructing Circles
 Fractals in the World Circular Properties & Pi
 Building 3D Polyhedra  3D Volumes and Surface Areas
 Patterns in 3D  Student Portfolios/Presentations
COACH CLASS:
Mr. Yates is available for coach class to provide extra help (please sign up!):

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday afternoon 3:40-4:30pm

Every morning 8:00-8:30am
Wednesday evening at SE Branch Enoch Pratt Library 6:00-8:00pm (by
appointment)

The newly-built Southeast Anchor Library is located in Highlandtown at the intersection of

Eastern Avenue and South Conkling Street. Its address is 3601 Eastern Avenue, and its phone
number is
(410) 396 – 1580. It is accessible to the following bus lines:
• 10 Line - Stop at Eastern Avenue & Conkling Street (at the library)
• 13 Line - Stop at Eastern Avenue & S. East Avenue (4 blocks east to library)
• 22 Line - Stop at Bank Street & Conkling Street (1 block south to library)

I can make arrangements to be there any Wednesday from 6-8pm, to provide additional
assistance with homework, HSA-retake studying, and making up missed material. Please sign
up in advance, or otherwise let me know you’ll be coming, so that I know what materials to
bring.

If none of these times works for you, let me know. I will be happy to talk and schedule a time
when we can meet. Remember also—my classroom door is always open to you, and I invite
you to come by to discuss anything.

GRADES:
Quizzes 50 %
Projects 50 %

Daily homework and classwork are essential components to learning the material in
this course. Homework is assigned daily except Friday, and I am available for extra help
nearly every day. I shall collect assignments on a daily basis and provide timely feedback
to you to help you learn the skills of geometry.

Quizzes will be given weekly, generally on Thursdays. Quizzes will assess your
understanding of geometric concepts and your acquisition of geometric skills. Each quiz
will include new skills but also reassess older skills. Your grade for each skill will be
overwritten with the most recent assessment of that skill. You may reassess (in coach
class, one skill per day) until you demonstrate mastery of each skill.

This course is project-driven. There will be a number of group and individual projects
over the semester, including applications of geometry to construction, engineering, art,
and the natural world; a research paper/presentation; and a summative portfolio.

There will be opportunities to redo/retake projects and quizzes for full credit, as part of
the mastery-redo policy.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
 pencil(s) and pen(s)  [at home] a ruler that can
 a three-ring binder measure both inches and
 loose-leaf lined paper, to fit centimeters
binder  [at home] a basic 4-function
calculator (+, -, x, ÷)

RULES:
1. Be respectful of others (even if they disrespect you).
2. Come prepared to class.
3. Help create a positive learning environment, and refrain from disrupting
others’ learning.

REWARDS:
By following the rules of the classroom and school, we create a comfortable and safe
classroom environment where unlimited learning and discovery can take place.

CONSEQUENCES:
1. Warning
2. 5 points off daily participation grade
3. Detention: after school that day or next
4. Phone call home / Office Referral

Detentions will be served after school, with a one day grace period. It is the student’s
responsibility to arrange transportation home after the detention, and to inform coaches
or other after-school advisors that the student will miss practice or club meeting.
Failure to serve detention will result in a phone call home and/or an office referral.

PROCEDURES:
1. As soon as you enter the classroom, place homework in your class’s bin and
begin work on the Challenge of the Day.
2. You will have homework four days a week—every day except Friday.
3. All assignments should be dated and have your name written clearly in the
upper right corner. Every assignment should also have a clear title (e.g. page
number and question numbers, if from a book).
4. Lateness is not acceptable. You will sign the late book if you arrive late, and get
it signed by Mr. Yates to verify the time recorded. Mr. Yates’s time is the final
record
5. At the end of class, most days, an exit ticket should be completed and handed
in, your area should be clean, and your chair pushed in. You will be dismissed by
Mr. Yates (not the bell) when all students are ready.
6. A binder and notebook of worksheets and material covered will be kept up by two
members of the class (rotating through the year). If you are absent or miss
class for any reason, you are responsible for learning the material & making up
missed work, by looking in the binder.
7. Be imaginative and creative—have fun with the math!
We’ll have a great year together—I’m looking forward
to our class.