CCSS.Math.Content.HSG.SRT.C.8 Use trigonometric ratios and the Pythagorean Theorem to solve right triangles in applied problems.^*

G.SRT.C.8 Map My Walk

It is no secret that society is using more and more on technology for everyday things. As teacher we need to try to incorporate this kind of technology that our students are using on a daily basis into our curriculum.

One way to incorporate technology into a lesson is by having students use what they can’t live without, their cellphones. In both Google Play and the iTunes store the Walk with Map My Walk app can be downloaded for free. This app tracks where the person is walking, what distance they have traveled as well as the duration of the walk. One standard that can be met using this app is G.SRT.C.8, which is a modeling standard that uses trigonometry and the Pythagorean theorem to solve right triangles. Using this app two students can start at a marked point and then walk away from each other at a right angle (maybe walk on the sidewalk of an intersection), while the students walk away from each other the app will track the distance traveled by each student. Once the students have walked the desired distance they can come together and draw their triangle using the data from the app. Now with the triangle drawn the students can now use the Pythagorean theorem to solve for the hypotenuse, which is the distance between the two students when they stopped walking. Once the students have solved for the hypotenuse then they can now use that information to solve for the angles using trigonometric ratios. To challenge the students a bit more they can be assigned to make their own triangle using only one student.

This activity will get students out of the classroom and doing something they probably did not think could be done with their phones. If this standard was not taught using technology it would be taught just by story telling and having students draw out the triangle according to the story. This activity is not only getting students to learn math in a more practical way but it is also getting them to move around. This is also something the parents and the community can get involved in. Parents can use the app to assess their child when they are out on family walks or when they are at the store. Once the student is comfortable with the app they can involve their friends and community members in an activity.

The students will be exited to get an opportunity to go outside and move around rather than just sit at a desk and work from a textbook. This technology is very helpful because students always have their phones on them. Instead of trying to fight them to put it away why not incorporate this into the curriculum where they will be using their phone in a positive and productive way. When students are able to see the how math is really applied to the real world they tend to listen better and be more involved. If the students can see the correlation between the lesson and the community they will be more enthusiastic. When students start to get into higher-level math they tend to lose interest because they feel like that math does not apply to everyday life but by having students use things like their phone in lessons they will see that math is still apart of it.

Here is the worksheet where the students will collect and write all their information. MapMyWalk

For more pictures and information about the app go to http://www.mapmywalk.com/app/