Cole’s Engaged Classroom

Have you checked out the Learn Grid on Canva?
If not, run 🏃🏾‍♀️ don’t walk.
Thank me later!

Check out this cool drag and drop activity I created there to identify functions!
https://canva.link/m8wbuw6rh1ficui

Drop your answer in the comments!!!!

Credits to Amanda Vincent for this awesome resource.

Edits were made to the original with her permission through a post she shared. Tag her if you know her please.

💡 FROM CONFUSION → “OHHHH” (HOW I TEACH PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM)

I don’t start with the formula.

I start with a quick 5-minute hook:

👉 Draw an L-shape
Students: “That’s a right angle… 90°.”

👉 “Add one line to make a triangle.”
They do it.

👉 “Which side is the longest?”
They point to the slanted side every time.

That’s when I introduce:
Hypotenuse = the BIG side
🦛“Hippopotamus = BIG → Hypotenuse = BIGGEST”

Now they have a visual + a memory before any math.

---

Then we go straight into the structure:

👉 The two sides that make the L are the legs
👉 Square the legs
👉 Add them together
👉 That gives the hypotenuse squared
👉 Square root to get the actual length

We anchor it here 👇

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

So students see it as:

Leg² + Leg² = Hypotenuse²
→ then root at the end

---

But here’s the move that changes everything…

After they’ve solved a few, I flip it.

I show a triangle they already know and ask:

👉 “What if we only knew the hypotenuse and ONE leg… how do we find the missing side?”

And I wait.

If needed, I nudge:
👉 “We added before… what would undo adding?”

Then it hits…

One student says:
👉 “We subtract.”

And the whole class:
😮 “OHHHH…”

---

Now their thinking becomes:

- Finding the hypotenuse? → add
- Finding a missing leg? → subtract
- Square first. Root last.

No extra formulas. Just understanding.

---

Hook → Build → Flip → Eureka.

That’s the flow.

How do you take students from procedure to understanding on this topic?

💡 FROM CONFUSION → “OHHHH” (HOW I TEACH PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM)

I don’t start with the formula.

I start with a quick 5-minute hook:

👉 Draw an L-shape
Students: “That’s a right angle… 90°.”

👉 “Add one line to make a triangle.”
They do it.

👉 “Which side is the longest?”
They point to the slanted side every time.

That’s when I introduce:
Hypotenuse = the BIG side
🦛 Hippopotamus = BIG → Hypotenuse = BIGGEST”

Now they have a visual + a memory before any math.

---

Then we go straight into the structure:

👉 The two sides that make the L are the legs
👉 Square the legs
👉 Add them together
👉 That gives the hypotenuse squared
👉 Square root to get the actual length

We anchor it here 👇

a^2 + b^2 = c^2

So students see it as:

Leg² + Leg² = Hypotenuse²
→ then root at the end

---

But here’s the move that changes everything…

After they’ve solved a few, I flip it.

I show a triangle they already know and ask:

👉 “What if we only knew the hypotenuse and ONE leg… how do we find the missing side?”

And I wait.

If needed, I nudge:
👉 “We added before… what would undo adding?”

Then it hits…

One student says:
👉 “We subtract.”

And the whole class:
😮 “OHHHH…”

---

Now their thinking becomes:

- Finding the hypotenuse? → add
- Finding a missing leg? → subtract
- Square first. Root last.

No extra formulas. Just understanding.

---

Hook → Build → Flip → Eureka.

That’s the flow.

How do you take students from procedure to understanding on this topic?

Here’s a fun way to worksheet!

Reminders as we approach testing season.

Here’s something I created for my starter activity… hope you like it 😊🫶🏽

🧩 EXPONENT DOMINOES – DIRECTIONS

Goal:
Build a correct domino chain from START → END using exponent rules.

---

How to Play:

1. Start with the START card.
2. Solve the expression on the card.
3. Find a domino whose left side matches your answer.
4. Connect it to the chain.
5. Repeat until you reach the END card.

---

Rules You Must Use:
- Multiply → add exponents
- Divide → subtract exponents
- Power of a power → multiply exponents
- Zero exponent = 1
- Negative exponents → flip (reciprocal)

---

Important:
⚠️ If ONE domino is wrong → the whole chain is wrong
⚠️ You must be able to explain your matches

Finish Early?
👉 Check another group’s chain
👉 Find a mistake and explain it.