Before leaving feedback, please take a moment to tell us who you are:
This is one time only. Sharing this data will help us organize and understand community feedback. No further personal information is required to leave feedback so that your feedback can remain anonymous.

×








Please select a role.

Building with Triangles *

G-GPE.4, G-GPE.5, GPE.7, F-LE.1, F-LE.2, A-CED.2: Investigate with geometric figures, constructing figures in the plane, relating the distance formula to the Pythagorean Theorem, noticing how areas and perimeters of polygons change as the coordinates change. Build with triangles and quadrilaterals, noticing positions and movement, and creating equations that model the changing edges using technology. (CDE 2023, 58)

California Department of Education. 2023. Mathematics Framework Chapter 8. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education.

Big Idea Success Criteria

The categories and their related standards below unpack the success criteria of this big idea.

Primary Standards

  • Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically. [Include distance formula; relate to Pythagorean Theorem.] (G-GPE.4, G-GPE.5, GPE.7) (CDE 2013, 74)
    • G-GPE.4. Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically (CDE 2013, 74).
    • G-GPE.5. Prove the slope criteria for parallel and perpendicular lines and use them to solve geometric problems (e.g., find the equation of a line parallel or perpendicular to a given line that passes through a given point) (CDE 2013, 74).
    • G-GPE.7. Use coordinates to compute perimeters of polygons and areas of triangles and rectangles, e.g., using the distance formula (CDE 2013, 74).

Secondary Standards

  • Construct and compare linear, quadratic, and exponential models and solve problems. [Linear and exponential] (F-LE.1, F-LE.2) (CDE 2013, 67)
    • F-LE.1. Distinguish between situations that can be modeled with linear functions and with exponential functions.
      1. Prove that linear functions grow by equal differences over equal intervals, and that exponential functions grow by equal factors over equal intervals.
      2. Recognize situations in which one quantity changes at a constant rate per unit interval relative to another.
      3. Recognize situations in which a quantity grows or decays by a constant percent rate per unit interval relative to another. (CDE 2013, 67-68)
    • F-LE.2. Construct linear and exponential functions, including arithmetic and geometric sequences, given a graph, a description of a relationship, or two input-output pairs (include reading these from a table). (CDE 2013, 68)
  • Create equations that describe numbers or relationships. [Linear and exponential (integer inputs only)] (A-CED.2) (CDE 2013, 90)
    • A-CED.2. Create equations in two or more variables to represent relationships between quantities; graph equations on coordinate axes with labels and scales (CDE 2013, 90).

California Department of Education. 2013. California Common Core State Standards. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Education.

Alternative Means of Expression

The following options give educators and IEP teams viable alternative means of expression a student could use when showing their understanding of this big idea. Much of the initiative team’s approach to identifying options centered on developing or adopting performance tasks to show what assessment might look like for this big idea.

Remember, LEAs adopt their own policies related to how a student meets the requirements for graduation. Educators and IEP teams should explore these resources with knowledge of these local policies.

General Guidance with Selecting Options for this Big Idea

For Building with Triangles, students may verbally or in writing explain their construction of triangles and quadrilaterals. Tools such as GeoGebra or Desmos can aid students in visually representing these shapes on a coordinate plane. Students can annotate on their graphs the relationship of the Pythagorean Theorem in their figures and the impact on the area and perimeter when coordinates are changed. They can complete a simplified number of coordinate transformations that alter the shapes and express these changes algebraically verbally, in writing, or using speech-to-text software.

Sample Coursework

Project Created Performance Task

Alternate Means of Expression Option 1 is a performance task created by the project team that represents a viable alternate means of expression a school, district, teacher, or IEP team could utilize as an assessment option for this big idea.

Integrated Mathematics I Shapes and Structures, Building with Triangles, Transformation and Congruence (Student Materials)

This document gives the companion student materials to the performance task fully described in the teacher guide. Please refer to the teacher guide linked as the option performance task for expanded details on appropriate and inappropriate supports for this task, as well as a list of potential alternate means of expression students could use when completing task items.

Shapes and Structures, Building with Triangles, Transformation and Congruence: PT Student Materials

Mathematics

Integrated Mathematics 1 *

These materials provide the student facing resources needed to deliver the option 1 performance task.

Comment

Integrated Mathematics I Shapes and Structures, Building with Triangles, Transformation and Congruence (Teacher Guide)

This performance task evaluates students’ understanding of key concepts within the Integrated 1 Shapes and Structures, Building with Triangles, and Transformations and Congruence Big Ideas. It is divided into parts, with each targeting specific overlapping components of these three Big Ideas related to plane geometry. Each part offers accessible strategies and examples of how students can demonstrate proficiency with the concepts. Various tools, mediums, and connections are provided for teachers to customize the task to the unique needs, cultures, interests, and abilities of their students to promote an inclusive and relevant educational experience.

When preparing to administer this performance task, it is important for the teacher to distinguish between flexible and fixed elements to ensure students have multiple ways to demonstrate their knowledge without compromising the depth and the rigor of the standards. As always, educators should also consult the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) to ensure that all required accommodations and supplementary aids are provided during the assessment.

Shapes and Structures, Building with Triangles, Transformation and Congruence: PT Teacher Guide

Mathematics

Integrated Mathematics 1 *

This guide provides a sample performance task for this big idea created by the project team.

Comment

Performance Tasks

Alternate Means of Expression Option 2 represent either a single performance task or a set of performance tasks that have been curated from publicly available task repositories that can be used as a viable assessment option.

Performance Tasks Scoring Materials
Performance Task Materials
Performance Task Primary Source Documents

These performance tasks were gathered from publicly available performance task repositories, including the Mathematics Assessment Project (partnership with UC Berkeley, University of Nottingham, and the Shell Center for Mathematical Education), tied to the Common Core State Standards. According to the Mathematics Assessment Project, these “[performance] tasks are substantial, often involving several aspect of mathematics, and structured so as to ensure that all students have access to the problem. Students are guided through a “ramp” of increasing challenge to enable them to show the levels of performance they have achieved. While any of the mathematical practices may be required, these tasks especially feature MP2, MP6 and two others (MP3 – construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; MP7 – look for and make use of structure).” These tasks exemplify different ways to assess a student’s understanding of the Big Ideas tied to Algebra 1. Educators should feel free to either use these tasks directly to assess students’ learning through alternate means of expression or to use these tasks as a model of different ways to assess student learning. These tasks are especially powerful when making real world connections to the Big Ideas and their related standards.

Overview Statement: This performance task is intended to help you assess how well students are able to find the leg of a right triangle given the base and hypotenuse and to determine the diagonal of a rectangle with given measurements.

Building with Triangles: Public Performance Task

Mathematics

Integrated Mathematics 1 *

This task assesses finding triangle legs and rectangle diagonals from given measures.

Comment

Card Sort

Alternate Means of Expression Option 3 represent either a single performance tasks or a set of performance tasks that have been curated from publically avaible task repositories that can be used as a viable assessment option.

General Instructions for Completing the Card Sort Independently

  • Starting with a card from Set A: Begin by selecting a card from Set A.
  • Find its matching card from Set B: Carefully examine the cards in Set B to identify the one that corresponds or matches with the card from Set A.
  • Place cards side by side: As you make matches, place the paired cards side by side on a large sheet of paper. Avoid stacking them on top of each other so that you can easily see all your matches and make revisions if needed.
  • Explain your thinking: After making a match, take a moment to clearly and carefully explain your thought process. You can do this by writing down your explanation, recording it on a device, or explaining it aloud to yourself.
  • Repeat for Set C, D, etc. (if applicable): If the Card Sort includes an additional set of cards, repeat the above steps for this set as well.

Card Sort Scoring Materials
Card Sort Post-Assessment Task
Card Sort Materials
Card Sort Primary Source Materials

Card Sorts & Matching Activities are powerful tools in mathematics education. By using pre-existing representations, students can focus more on analyzing and making connections between mathematical concepts rather than exclusively spending time creating the representations themselves. This approach allows students to delve deeper into the mathematical content, fostering a deeper understanding of the connections between different concepts. Additionally, engaging in activities like Card Sorts & Matching aligns well with mathematical practices such as attending to precision (MP6) and looking for and making use of structure (MP7).

Generally when completing a card sort, students will need a cut-up copy of each “Card Set”, a large sheet of paper for making a poster (large enough to accommodate multiple sets of cards and space to write their justifications, a device to verbally record justifications, or a teacher to share justifications with), a glue stick, and (when noted) a graphing calculator to check answers. The Card Sorts typically have a blank section and/or blank cards for students to author the missing table, graph, algebraic rule, etc.

Overview Statement: This card set is intended to help you assess how well students are able to:

  • Work with concepts of congruence and similarity, including identifying corresponding sides and corresponding angles within and between triangles.
  • Identify and understand the significance of a counter-example.
  • Prove and evaluate proofs in a geometric context.

Building with Triangles: Card Sort

Mathematics

Integrated Mathematics 1 *

This card assesses congruence, similarity, counter-examples, and proofs in geometry.

Comment

Bring Your Own Task (BYOT)

A Call to IEP Teams

We want students’ IEP team members to share their ideas regarding viable alternative means of expression pertaining to this big idea for students with disabilities, including those eligible for the CAA, these teams serve. IEP teams can define viable alternative means of expression for an individual student with an IEP, as long as these mediums meet the local requirements of the coursework.

A Call to Content-based Educators

In addition to IEP teams, we know secondary teachers and district curriculum leads have a wealth of experience and ideas related to innovative ways to assess students’ understanding of this content. We are interested in sample alternative means of expression this community sees as viable assessments of this big idea.

Please use the entry boxes below to share these ideas.

Important Note —These assessment tools will not be shared outside the review of the initiative team and will remain the intellectual property of the users who have made this submission. Furthermore, feedback or comments from the initiative team will not be given to uploaded content, nor does uploading materials imply that the alternative means of expression strategy is a viable option for this big idea.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Max. file size: 50 MB.
Consent
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Funded by the California Department of Education, Special Education Division

Copyright ©2024 | WestEd | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Accessibility Statement