GRADE: 9

UNIT (S): Measurement

TOPIC: Area and perimeter of plane shapes
SUB-TOPIC: Length of an arc
DURATION: 60min
STANDARDS: Use the correct units, tools and attributes to estimate, compare and carry out
the processes of measurement to given degree of accuracy
GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this unit students will be able to understand appreciate the concept of
measurement in their everyday lives.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this session students will be able to:
• Explain the term Length of an Arc in their own words
• Derive the formula to find arc length
• Solve problems involving Arc length
KEY SKILLS:
• Recall parts of a circle
• investigate circles
• interpret information
• Investigate formulae of arc length
• substitute
KEY VOCABULARY:
• Pi
• Sector
• Chord
• Minor arc
• Major arc
• Diameter
• Radius
• Circumference
• Arc length

RESOURCES:
• Blank paper
 • graph paper
• compass
• protractor
• pencil
• ruler

PRIOR LEARNING:
Check that students can:
• Use a measuring tape
• Know how to find the circumference with the use of the formula.
• Know the difference between metric and imperial measures
• Identify the circumference, diameter and radius of the circle
• Perform operations with fractions
• Use the concept of ratio and proportion

LEARNING OUTCOME:
Students will be able to:
• Manipulate measuring instruments to demonstrate a variety of measuring attributes
• Actively participate in group activities and discussions
• Engage in problem solving situations involving measurement
• Safely and correctly use measuring instruments
• Derive the formula for the arc length

CONTENT

Arc Length in degrees

An Arc is like the outer end of a "pizza slice" of the circle. It consists of a region bounded by
two radii and an arc lying between the radii.
An arc of a circle is a "portion" of the circumference of the circle.
The length of an arc is simply the length of its "portion" of the circumference. The
circumference itself can be considered a full circle arc length.

Definition: Arc Measure: In a circle, the degree measure of an arc is equal to the measure
of the central angle that intercepts the arc.

Definition: Arc Length: In a circle, the length of an arc is a portion of the

circumference. The letter "s" is used to represent arc length.

Consider the following proportion:

If we solve the proportion for arc length, and replace "arc measure"
with its equivalent "central angle", we can establish the formula:

Notice that arc length is a fractional part of the circumference. For example, an arc measure
of 60º is one-sixth of the circle (360º), so the length of that arc will be one-sixth of the
circumference of the circle.
Example
In circle O, the radius is 8 inches and minor arc is intercepted by a central angle of 110
degrees. Find the length of minor arc to the nearest integer.
TEACHING/LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
Engage: Students will be engaged in a discussion where they will be asked about
different pastries that have circular shapes. They will then be asked:
How could I cut this pastry up in to equal parts?
How much slice would each person get if there are were 4 persons?
Explore: Students will be given a general definition of the length of an arc. Each
group will be given a compass, graph paper, ruler, protractor and string. They will be asked to
draw a circle at any radius desired on the graph paper. Groups 1,2, 3, 4 be asked to cut their
circle into any number of parts. They will then be asked to choose a piece they desire and
record the angle subtended by the lines drawn to form a arc, also a string and a ruler will be
used to measure the arc of the section chosen. They will then be guided with the used
Socratic questioning such as:
Explain: The Students will be engaged in a discussion to explain their new discovery
and also the definition of key terms and concepts will be further explained by the facilitator.
This section is where the facilitator and the students will be deriving the formula for the
length of an arc.
Extend/Elaborate: Students will be asked to play the game called Divide and
Conquer: Divide the class into groups. Each group has a section of the board to write on.
Each group will be asked to find the length of the arc of the circle they drew earlier. The
group takes turns going up to answer the problem, but the group can help each other out.

The minute hand of a clock is 14cm long. How far does the tip of the minute hand on a clock
move in 10 minutes?

Evaluate: Students will engage in an activity called what I know now. Student will be
given a game to calculate the arc length in groups of four. First group to finish with at least
90% accuracy wins cool juices and tokens.

ASSESSMENT:
Student will be given a worded question.

EXTENDED LEARNING:
Challenge students to: students to investigate tyre codes and to find the code that gives the
circumference of tyres for various vehicles (including planes, bicycles, and motorbikes) and
why that particular circumference is used for each type of vehicle