3.+Description+of+Activity

=How "Measuring the Pole" Works= Materials - A tall outside structure with a measure-able shadow - Measuring tapes - Clinometers (instructions to construct are below) - Worksheet

Lesson Steps
 * 1) The entire class will walk outside to a nearby telephone pole and the teacher displays a measuring tape and clinometer to students, saying that this is all they will have to work with.
 * 2) Students will be given this worksheet:[[file:How Tall is the Phone Pole.doc]]
 * 3) Students are asked to individually come up with an hypothesis about the height of the pole and think about how they can use similar triangles to find the height of a telephone pole and how they can use right triangle trigonometry to find the height of a telephone pole.
 * 4) Students will discuss this in groups of two or three and develop a plan.
 * 5) Students will sketch the set-up, take the measurements they think are necessary, and label measurements on the sketch noting units. During this time, the teacher circulates to make sure that students are on the right track.
 * 6) Everyone returns to the classroom to calculate the pole’s height using both methods and compare these calculations to their initial hypotheses.
 * 7) The teacher then asks students to informally present their findings and talk about the similarities and differences in the two processes, and which they feel is more accurate.

How to create a clinometer:
 * 1) Print [|this image]
 * 2) Cut out just the outlined figure
 * 3) Tape or glue the figure to cardboard (or a protractor if available)
 * 4) Punch hole through the black dot in the top center.
 * 5) Thread floss through hole, tie securely or tape to back
 * 6) Attach weight (paperclips work well) to the loose end of the floss
 * 7) Attach straw for students to look through.