Review by Debbie Gorrell, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2014
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isosceles+ : geometry sketchpad

Get it now
  • Download from App Store

Digital tool for exploring and constructing lines, angles, shapes

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • Math
Skills
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
9–12
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (1 Review)
Price:  $4.99
Platforms:  iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

Take a look inside

5 images
Kids create shapes with equations and text annotations.
Help features are thorough and easily accessible.
Tutorials are organized by topic.
Kids can use tutorials to review important geometry concepts.
Assess learning with the questions that follow each tutorial.

Pros: Tutorials are excellent for reviewing concepts and assessing knowledge either before or after an in-class lesson.

Cons: Manipulating and constructing figures can be tricky, so kids will need plenty of time to practice.

Bottom Line: Versatile high-tech, hands-on tool is useful for teaching, exploring, constructing geometric figures.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Use the tutorials to test kids' knowledge either before or after a unit that applies to the content in the tutorials. For example, after kids learn about the Pythagorean theorem, have them complete the related tutorial individually or with a partner. Then move to the sketchpad and have kids construct a triangle and add measurements for two sides. They can then use the Pythagorean theorem to find or demonstrate the measure of the third side.

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Standards:

Kids can begin using the app either by checking out the tutorials or by going directly to the sketchpad. Tutorials teach kids concepts related to geometry, and each is followed by a series of assessment items. The sketchpad is an exploratory tool with numerous options. Kids can create free-form sketches or use the drawing tool to combine lines, circles, conics, arcs, and circles to create complex figures. Some of the more interesting features include the ability to insert images and graph functions, add text annotations and mathematical expressions, and easily save and share drawings.  

As they view the tutorials, kids can learn and test their knowledge of lines, circles, triangles, and more. Assessment questions that follow the tutorials include multiple-choice questions as well as problems that require kids to construct lines and figures with specific features. This is a great way for kids to review and practice important concepts. By using the sketchpad, kids are encouraged to learn through exploration as they construct, manipulate, and edit lines and figures. It's also an excellent way to boost kids' confidence in using technology. 

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

Digital format empowers kids to learn through creating, making geometric constructions high-tech and engaging. 

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Kids can freely explore and construct geometric figures for a highly visual, hands-on learning experience. 

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Tutorials review and assess important concepts, and lots of tips and hints are available at the tap of a finger. A website with ideas for extension activities would be a nice addition. 

Common Sense Reviewer
Debbie Gorrell
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Expressing Geometric Properties With Equations

  • HSG.GPE.4

    Use coordinates to prove simple geometric theorems algebraically. For example, prove or disprove that a figure defined by four given points in the coordinate plane is a rectangle; prove or disprove that the point (1, √3) lies on the circle centered at the origin and containing the point (0, 2).

  • HSG.GPE.6

    Find the point on a directed line segment between two given points that partitions the segment in a given ratio.

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Teacher Reviews

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Featured review by
Rychelle L. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
San Gabriel Academy
San Gabriel, CA
Great Platform for Engaging Geometry Sketches
I love the different tools the app has. You can make tic marks and use arcs to construct shapes. You can also type next to a shape or point to label it or even give instructions or explain what you did. The most challenging aspect of the app is that it does not have clear instructions on how to do all of these things. It takes quite a bit of time messing around in the app to figure out how to create the figure you want to. I think this app could definitely help my students create helpful drawings in Geometry and could provide a digital way to do constructions. However, it would require quite a bit of class time to make sure all the students understood how to use all the tools it provides.
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