PYTHAGORAS’ THEOREM
YEAR 9 MATHS – NUMERACY AND CRITICAL THINKING
AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM LEARNING OBJECTIVES

AGMMG222:1 understanding that Pythagoras’ Theorem is a useful tool in determining
unknown lengths in right-angled triangles and has widespread applications.

AGMMG222:2 recognising that right-angled triangle calculations may generate results that
can be integral, fractional or irrational numbers known as surds.
RESOURCES REQUIRED

Pythagoras’ Theorem3 captioned online video with projection facilities. (Duration: 21
minutes.)

Supplementary worksheets4 from Haesemathematics Australia – print appropriate pages
based on ability of class.
LESSON OBJECTIVE: students investigate and apply Pythagoras’s Theorem.
Lesson outline:
1) Prior knowledge activity: ask students if they have heard of Pythagoras and what theories he
is famous for. (Optional intro: use activity from the Kids Numbers website5.)
2) Students answer questions posed on the video as they watch it - pause to discuss answers
throughout the viewing
3) Post viewing activity: check understanding after the video and direct students to worksheets
4) Students compose and perform a rap song based on Pythagoras but must have the formula
(a2 + b2 = c2.) as the chorus
5) Reflection: students use jingles/lyrics from songs performed to develop their own way to
summarise Pythagoras’ Theorem.
HOMEWORK/EXTENSION
Students design their own challenge for a partner to answer based on Pythagoras’ Theorem. An
example is available at the Geometry Centre website6.
1
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Search?q=pythagoras+theorem
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/Search?q=pythagoras+theorem
3 http://webplayer.clickview.com.au/?p=qCaNy
4 http://www.haeseandharris.com.au/samples/ibmyp5plus-2_04.pdf
5 http://www.kidsnumbers.com/pythagorean-theorem-game.php
6 http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/~demo5337/Group3/bball.html
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OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER ACTIVITY
Students research cartoons based on Pythagoras’ Theorem from the Internet to get inspiration for
their own and make their own cartoon/comic strip to visually portray the theorem.
ICT option: students can use the Make Beliefs7 website to create a story about Pythagoras and/or
the application of his theory.
7
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/
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