SHS Staff Pages: Grabowski, Mary

Geometry Syllabus

by Carol Braun

September 20, 2005

GEOMETRY SYLLABUS

Purpose

Geometry is a one-year course designed to prepare high school students for success in future mathematics courses. It presents important mathematical ideas that are the foundation for success in later study.

Geometry presents a unique opportunity for studying the processes of reasoning. Since ancient times, geometry has been for many people the foremost example of a fully reasoned system of knowledge.

The class will study Chapter 1 - 4 during the first semester. In Chapter 1, the student will be introduce to basic notions of geometry and geometric objects. They will investigate postulates about points, lines, and planes. The student will use protractors to measure angles. They will identify and draw the three basic rigid transformations and apply the transformations to the coordinate plane.

In Chapter 2, the student is introduce to the ideas and concepts that provide a basis for understanding the deductive nature of geometry. The student will define conditionals and model them with Euler diagrams. From this the student will use conditionals in logical arguments and form converses of conditionals. The student will then create logical chains from the conditionals. This is the first step to developing a logical proof.

In Chapter 3, The students develops a concept of polygons and explores in detail the properties of quadrilaterals. Parallel lines and transversals are studied, and their properties are then used to develop a number of important facts about the sums of interior and exterior angles of polygons.

Chapter 4 introduce students to the triangle congruence postulates. First, students develop intuitive notions of triangle congruence through exploration. Later in the chapter, students apply the congruence postulates in formal proofs.

The second semester the students will cover chapters 5 - 10. Chapter 5 builds on students' previous experiences to explore strategies for finding perimeter, circumference, and area of rectangles, parallelograms , trapezoids and circles. The student will be abel to use the Pythagorean theorem and solve problems using the theorem. The student will also study special triangles (30-60-90, and 45-45-90). The distance formula will also be study. The last section will be on Geometry Probability The concepts in this chapter are found on the ACT test and other standard tests.

Chapter 6 introduces students to geometric figures in three-dimensional space. Students will extend ideas and concepts about plane figures to three-dimensional figures, of spatial figure. The student will use isometric dot paper to draw three-dimensional shapes composed of cubes and develop an understanding of orthographic projection. They will define polyhedron and study the special properties. The student will identify the features of a three-dimensional coordinate system. Also the student will identify and define the basic concepts of perspective drawing and apply these basic concepts to create perspective drawings.

In chapter 7, students will calculate the surface area and volume of prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones and spheres.

In chapter 8, students explore similar figures through dilation's in the plane and use similarity to measure distances indirectly. Students will use the Properties of Proportion and scale factor to solve problems. The student will also use the Side-Splitting Theorem to solve problems.

Chapter 9 focuses on the relationships among parts of circles and between circles and various angles, segments and arcs. Students develop theorems and rules through the activities and then apply those rules in problem-solving situations.

Chapter 10 focuses on Trigonometry. The students will develop the tangent, sine, and cosine ratios from a right triangle. The student will use the ratios to solve problems.

STANDARDS

The first semester we will review the strands 1, 2, and 3. The students will take the tests for these strands.

Second semester we will take the test on strand 4 which is the Geometry strand. There are seven tests in this strand.

STUDENT GRADING

Homework and quizzes will be worth 15% . Computer assignments will be worth 5%. The standard tests will be worth 5%. Tests will be worth 75%. Each quarter will be given a percentage value, they will be added along with a semester test to find your grade. The semester test will be comprehensive and is worth 10% of your total grade. The way it works is that the maximum value for one quarter is 45% and the other quarter is 45% and the semester is 10%. So it works out to be .45 + .45 + .10 = 1.00 X 100 = SEMESTER GRADE.

MAKE UP WORK

You will have till the day of the test in that chapter to make up work for any absence. After the test the work will not be graded.

CLASSROOM RULES

Students are to come to class prepared which includes, bring all materials and being on time. Students at all times are to be respectful of the teacher and other students in the room. All work will be done in pencil. 15 points will be taken off the grade if the assignment is not done in pencil. If you do not have a pencil, you may rent or buy a pencil. If you are late to class make sure that you have a pass. It is ten minutes after school it you do not have a pass. During your study time you may go to the bathroom or get a drink. If you do not follow these rules you will be given a detention. Detentions will vary depending on the negative action and will be at the discretion of the teacher.

ABSENCES

The school allows for 10 missed days during the semester. If you go over this amount you will need to ge signed permission from the teacher if you wish to receive credit.