Geometry
- Curriculum: Geometry by Harold Jacobs
- Recommended Age: 8th – 12th grades
- Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra 1. If student is new to Liftoff Learning classes, a parent meeting (and possibly a placement test) is required to confirm student’s level.
- Course Length & Hours per Week: Course meets twice a week (1 hybrid class, 1 online class) for 32 weeks a year with regular and honors students together. Honors students meet an additional ½ hour per week.
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Materials Required:
- Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding (3rd Edition) by Harold R. Jacobs. Any 3rd edition (see 3 books in picture with 3 different covers) is fine. There are minor differences in primarily the pictures; pagination is consistent across versions. But, book must be THIRD edition. Used version fine.
- Solutions Manual - used version fine.
- Compass & protractor – recommended inexpensive set is Staedtler shown in picture, but your own set is acceptable too.
- OPTIONAL: Spiral binder of 4”x 6” index cards – see picture - for students who may want to write and sketch the geometry terms, postulates, and theorems.
- TI-84 calculator (color version preferred, but black & white version acceptable)
- 3-ring binder and spiral notebook for homework -
Course Description: With Jacobs’ Geometry, you can both enjoy and understand math! Really! Using the well-liked and highly regarded geometry textbook by Harold Jacobs along with a variety of hands-on activities, students study Euclidean geometry, logically building from the most basic axioms to the complexities of geometric solids. Jacobs’ presentation of geometry incorporates deductive reasoning applied to fascinating applications throughout history and across multiple disciplines. The text also incorporates Algebra 1 review problems to retain and reinforce previous skills.
During class, students discuss such topics as solving problems in multiple ways, seeing the geometric relationships in a diagram, using the graphing calculator, and recognizing the beauty and elegance of key mathematical proofs. Additionally, to encourage peer interaction and discussion of algebraic problems, students participate in “multi-student problem sets” (MSPS) to discover mathematical solutions together. In the spring, students correlate their geometry knowledge to intriguing topics such as real-world tessellations and the mathematical art of MC Escher.
While this is an older (but great!) textbook, to ensure Texas state objectives are fully covered, supplemental material is provided through class lectures, IXL practice, and TI-84 activities.
Honors students address advanced problems/topics, additional geometric proofs, and challenging ACT/SAT math questions in the weekly “honors delta” time. - High School Credit: 1 credit
- Homework Expectations: Roughly 5 - 8 hours per week. Higher workload during test weeks and for honors geometry. Homework consists of 1 - completing practice problems for the current lessons and immediately checking the solutions, and 2 - reading and completing "concept question" notes on upcoming sections prior to discussion in class. Students complete “Warm Up” assignments in preparation for the first class. Grade is based on a combination of homework/participation, weekly quizzes done outside class, unit tests, and multi-student problem sets.
- Class Size: Limited to 12 students