Lesson 7

Construction Techniques 5: Squares

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Lesson Narrative

In this lesson, students apply their knowledge of constructing perpendicular lines and transferring distances to construct squares—first a square with a given side, and then a square inscribed in a circle. Students will need to recognize the structure of perpendicular parts (sides or diagonals) to identify an appropriate construction technique (MP7).

In the warm-up, students identify attributes belonging to categories of two-dimensional figures to review the definition of a square. The construction of the square inscribed in a circle provides the opportunity to preview the idea of symmetry that is developed later in the unit. Students also learn the term regular polygon to describe shapes that are both equilateral and equiangular, including squares.

If students have ready access to digital materials in class, they can choose to perform all construction activities with the GeoGebra Construction tool accessible in the Math Tools or available at https://www.geogebra.org/m/VQ57WNyR. 


Learning Goals

Teacher Facing

  • Construct a square.
  • Describe (orally and in writing) the diagonals of a square and use these conjectures to construct a square inscribed in a circle.

Student Facing

  • Let’s use straightedge and compass moves to construct squares.

Learning Targets

Student Facing

  • I can construct a square inscribed in a circle.
  • I can construct a square using a given segment for one of its sides.

CCSS Standards

Building On

Addressing

Building Towards

Glossary Entries

  • regular polygon

    A polygon where all of the sides are congruent and all the angles are congruent.

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