The objective of this activity is to use the virtual geoboard to explore length and area.

Materials: You will need a piece of graph paper and a pencil to record your work.

Procedure:

1. Grab an elastic by clicking on the geoboard elastics. Drop the elastic on the geoboard and begin creating a rectangle on the geoboard by clicking and dragging various sections of the elastic.
2. Calculate the area and the perimeter of the rectangle. Click on measures to check your calculations.
3. Draw the rectangle and your measurements on your graph paper so that your activities are recorded for your teacher's review.
4. Use the elastic to create a right triangle. Using the formula:
   (1/2) bh = area of a triangle, calculate the area of your triangle. Record your drawing and your calculations on your graph paper. Click measures to check your work.
5. Given that this is a right triangle, use Pythagorean's Theorem () to calculate the length of the hypotenuse (c). You should be able to determine the lengths of side a and side b by using the geoboard. Record your calculations on your graph paper.
6. Using the geoboard, create a square and calculate the area and perimeter using the formulas. Indicate which formula you have used in your written work.
7. Using the geoboard, create a parallelogram and calculate the area and perimeter using formulas. Indicate which formula you have used in your written work.
8. Using the geoboard, create a trapezoid and calculate the area and perimeter using formulas. Indicate which formula you have used in your written work.
9. Make certain you have recorded all your work for your instructor's review.
10. To exit this online activity, click on the back button on your browser.

The Virtual Geoboard was created by MATTI.