Unit 2

Mathematics 9 Unit 2 Introduction

Unit 2 Introduction

 

Circles are an important part of everyday life. Natural and human-made circular objects are found all over the world. In many cultures, circles are sacred.

 

This is a picture of planet Earth.

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stöckli

 

Circles make the world go round. They allow people to drive cars. Satellites orbit Earth in a circular orbit so people can communicate with each other. Circular pipes bring clean drinking water. Circles even add to the beauty of our surroundings. They are found in natural settings, modern architecture, and ancient remains.

 

Circles are an important component of design. They are an easily recognizable shape that is surprisingly strong. Features can be added to circles to create visually appealing, unique designs. Many of the world’s top brands have circular logos.

 

In this unit you will investigate the following critical question:

  • How can circles and circle properties be used in visual design?

The concepts and skills associated with circle geometry will be presented in five lessons.

 

This is a graphic that shows the names of the lessons for Unit 2.

 

Keep up to your assignments as you go through this unit. Keep your work organized, either electronically or in a paper version. This will help you to review and reference the lessons you have learned. Reviewing will help you on tests or while you are working on the unit project. Be sure to talk to your teacher about when and how to submit your assignments.

 

In this unit there are a variety of assignments you will be asked to complete. Some of these include the following:

  • posting to the discussion board

  • adding samples of your work to your Math 9 course folder

  • developing a formula sheet

  • completing sets of questions for each lesson

  • completing a unit project

  • completing evaluation pieces assigned by your teacher

Strategies for Success

 

In order to support your success in this unit, follow these strategies.

 

Strategy 1

 

 

Throughout this course you will be building a formula sheet in a spreadsheet program. The purpose of this project is to produce a formula sheet that you can use to quickly identify specific formulas and their uses. It will also provide a way for discussion, analysis, and review of these formulas with your peers.

  • The specific instructions and requirements for the formula sheet are provided to you in the course introduction.

  • Keep a look out for the formula sheet icon. This is an indication to add a formula to your spreadsheet. You should have saved a copy of the Mathematics 9 Formula Sheet spreadsheet to your Math 9 course folder when you worked in Unit 1.

Strategy 2

 

Make a foldable study tool according to the detailed instructions on page 376 of your textbook. Although this activity may not be graded for marks, you will benefit from this tool. Keep these points in mind as you develop and use this study tool.

  • Add formulas, diagrams, examples, key ideas, and glossary words as you work through the lessons.

  • The foldable can serve as a quick reference guide and will help you save time when you are ready to study for your unit test.

Strategy 3

 

In this unit you will be referring to pages 374 to 407 of your textbook.

  • Take time to flip through these textbook pages.

  • Look at illustrations, margin features, and main titles to get a sense of where you will be going.

Strategy 4

 

Read your lessons and textbook materials carefully.

  • Pay special attention to tables and diagrams. They have information that will help you understand what you are reading.

  • Read and reread material. Take time to ensure you understand it.

  • Ask yourself: What is new material to me? What do I already know?

  • Move ahead with confidence.

Unit 2 Project
 

This project will be a continuation of the project work you completed in Unit 1. You will be using the knowledge of circles you gain in Unit 2 to create an alternative logo design for your product.

 

As you progress through the unit, think about how you could use the ideas presented in each lesson to create an alternative design. Keep track of your project ideas in your portfolio. This will keep your work organized and available for when it is time to create your design at the end of the unit.

 

 

It is also important to keep in mind that you will be using your designs created in Unit 1 and Unit 2 in the Unit 3 project. Keep your portfolio in a safe place at least until the end of Unit 3. You will need it!

 

 

As you complete the Unit 2 Project, you may want to refer to the Unit 2 Project Self-Assessment Rubric.

 

You can use this rubric to help you understand how the project will be assessed. The better you understand what the characteristics of quality work are for the project, the easier it will be for you to create high-quality work. Remember, you can always discuss your project with your teacher if you have questions or are unclear about a piece of the project.

 

Are you ready to enter the exciting world of circles? It all starts in Lesson 1 with an exploration of angles in a circle!