TRIANGLE CENTERS

DIFFERENTIATING
Day 5
OBJECTIVE
Students will know and be able to distinguish between four different centers of
triangles. Students will apply what they know about altitudes, medians, bisectors and
perpendicular bisectors to memorize and find centers.
STANDARDS
Common Core Content Standards:
Geometry: Congruence
10. Prove theorems about triangles. Theorems include: measures of interior angles of a triangle
sum to 180; base angles of isosceles triangles are congruent; the segment joining midpoints of
two sides of a triangle is parallel to the third side and half the length; the medians of a triangle
meet at a point; the altitudes of a triangle meet at a point.

ISTE Technology Standards
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including
at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital
environments and media
b. Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media
and formats
5. Digital Citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal
and ethical behavior.
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and
productivity
c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning
PREPARATION
The teacher should become familiar with mind mapping websites or apps such
as Mind Meister and ensure that the classroom has access to those sites or apps. The
teacher should also be familiar with its format to help students complete work and solve
technical issues.
Group students into groups of two and prepare enough iPads and class
computers for each pair of students. Students should be grouped homogenously if
possible.
GUIDED INSTRUCTION STUDENT WORK
Review key concepts including: angle
bisector, midsegment, perpendicular
bisector, and altitude of a triangle.
Students should take notes on all key
terms reviewed by the teacher.

Connect these concepts to
corresponding centers of a triangle.
Incenter: point of intersection of
the angle bisectors
Centroid: point of intersection of
the medians
Orthocenter: point of intersection
of altitudes
Circumcenter: point of intersection
of perpendicular bisectors.
Review characteristics of each center
such as which centers are always located
within the circle and which can be found
outside of the triangle. Ask questions so
that students can explain connections in
their own words.
Direct students to mind mapping
software.
Direct students to create maps that show
connections, similarities, differences
between key terms that they have used
so far.
Walk around the room insuring students
understand how to use mind mapping
website.
Assign homework; students should
complete the mind map for homework
and post a screen capture or saved
image to their Pinterest boards.
Make sure to explain how to take a
screen capture or save image.
Students should also draw diagrams of
all the centers.








Students should respond to prompts and
provide connections or characteristics.




Students will use mind-mapping software
to create a visual organizer of the centers
and their characteristics.



Students should be discussing in pairs
how all terms are distinct or related.

Students will take a screen capture or
save image of their map and post to their
boards.
STUDENT PRODUCTS
Students will use a mind-mapping app such as MindMeister to categorize and relate
key concepts. For example, students can show that both orthocenters and
circumcenters are formed with perpendicular lines and make note of their
differences. Students can then show that circumcenters and centroids are both
formed with lines passing through the midpoint of each side of a triangle.
After students create a mind-map they will either save the image or take a screen
shot and pin it to their Pinterest board.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Computers or Tablets, one per student
Internet access
Mind mapping site or software such as MindMeister

ASSESSMENT RUBRIC
Posts Rubri c
6 poi nts
possi bl e
1 2 3
Descri pti on
Grammar
Posts do not have any
description.
Post includes
incomplete,
description with two
or more grammatical
errors or typos.
Post includes a
complete description
including assignment
title and date. One or
no grammatical errors
or typos.
Compl eti on
Posted work was not
complete.
Posted work was
complete but posted
1-2 days late.
Posted work was
complete and posted
on time.