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This Pythagorean Theorem word problems activity will take your students on a St. Patrick’s Day adventure! Your students will think critically about how the Pythagorean Theorem and triangles can be found in real life.
This real world application is perfect for group work and collaboration in your 8th grade math class. This activity can also be used as a stand-alone formative assessment for the Pythagorean Theorem!
This Pythagorean Theorem word problems activity includes:
✅ Finding missing side lengths of triangles
✅ Using the Pythagorean Theorem
✅ 6 scaffolded word problems
☆Answer key included☆
Real life applications are an essential part of any curriculum, but can often intimidate students. This activity offers scaffolding to support students as they learn to solve word problems and navigate the problem solving process.
What is the real world scenario?
A mischievous leprechaun has hidden a pot of gold at the end of a series of challenges that take place across a magical Irish landscape. You must solve each problem using the Pythagorean Theorem to move closer to the treasure.
How is this real life application different than regular word problems?
Most word problems have one question that needs to be answered and little follow up or detail. My real world math activities stretch one idea or scenario into a meaningful performance task that can be used as a full assessment of student learning.
This application is more than interpreting the question and quickly getting to the answer. Your students will be challenged to think critically about each scenario and defend their solutions.
The best part? All of the topics are relevant and modernized (because kids don’t care about calculating CD sales or cell phone minutes anymore).
How I have used this real world math application:
⭐Whole Group: This real world math activity is perfect for modeling how to apply the Pythagorean Theorem to real life problems.
⭐Small Group: Your students can work together to complete this activity and have discussions about different strategies for finding missing side lengths of triangles.
⭐ Individual: You can use this activity as a formative assessment for your 8th grade math students. It will usually take them about one class period to complete on their own.
Looking for more 8th grade math real world applications? Save 20% when you get the bundle: 8th Grade Math Word Problems and Real World Math Projects Bundle | Pre Algebra
You may also like:
⭐ 8th Grade Math Warm Ups, Exit Tickets, and Bell Ringers | Pre Algebra
⭐ Angles Relationships & Triangles Activity | 8th Grade Math Assessment for Winter
⭐ St. Patrick’s Day Graphing Systems of Equations Activity
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