"The Right Angle"

Solution Summary


Challenge
Mr. Wendell checked Ryan's calculations and directions for the rescue squad and found them to be accurate.
Solution

As they watch The Right Angle students learn about topographic maps, as well as about important concepts of geometry (e.g., isosceles right triangles) and their usefulness for measurement. Students also learn to use bearing guides and concepts of similar triangles. They will need to apply this information about maps and geometry to locate the cave by following Paige's grandfather's directions. Many of the grandfather's clues require students to use principles of right triangles to locate landforms of specified heights on the map. They must use bearing guides and their understanding of scale and elevation in order to identify the cave on the map.

Students then need to determine the fastest route to get to the cave and communicate this route in a way that the rescue squad can succesfully follow. Incorporating real-world map reading skills with angle and linear measurement, this is a challenging episode for math and social studies.