What will my teaching look like with Discovering Geometry? How is a class period structured?
Discovering Geometry is based on a pedagogy of discovery and hands-on learning. Students will usually sit in groups and will often make use of their geometry tools: compass, ruler, protractor, and patty paper. In a typical day, you may start with a warm-up or by going over the homework. Then you’ll spend 15–30 minutes doing an investigation, in which students will work together to discover some aspect of geometry. Investigations actively involve students in drawing, measuring, constructing, tracing, folding, cutting, calculating, and comparing geometric objects to look for relationships and formulate conjectures. After an investigation, students may present their results, you might conduct a class discussion to elicit what students learned, or you may summarize the geometrical ideas of the lesson. You might then work through an example of how to apply their new mathematical knowledge, or students might start working on homework in class, utilizing the support of their group members.
