Going to Any Lengths: Support Notes
- “Line” vs. “Line Segment"
Students are asked in this task to locate and construct “line segments.” It may helpful to clarify the difference and similarity between a “line” and a “line segment.” That is, a line segment is an unbroken and bounded portion of a line; a line is infinite.
- “Form” vs. “Construct”
The teacher may wish to consider using the word “form” instead of “construct” as it appears throughout the problem (e.g., Construct a square with exactly ¼ the area of the original square; Construct a triangle with exactly ¼ the area of the original square). As in English, the word construct (i.e., construir, construire) evokes notions of erecting physical structures. “Form,” on the other hand, may help more clearly convey to the student that s/he is to manipulate, change the appearance of the sheet of paper.
- Work
“Work” is used in this task in the functional/operational sense (e.g., Bob’s cell phone doesn’t work). Some students may be more familiar with “work” as the verb describing an activity in which one engages to achieve a purpose or result, or “work” as the synonym for a “job” or “employment.” You may find it helpful to address how “work” is used in the context of the task.
