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Math lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 minutes

Choose the congruence test (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, RHS)

Geometry

CCSS HSG.CO.B.8CCSS HSG.SRT.B.5England: GCSE Foundation GeometryEngland: GCSE Higher Geometry

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Choose the congruence test (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, RHS).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Congruent triangles

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Rulers and protractors, Squared or dotted paper, Shape cut-outs, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Congruent triangles). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Two triangles are known to be congruent because both have a right angle, and the hypotenuses and one other side are equal. Which condition is this? (SAS / ASA / SSS / RHS (HL)) → RHS (HL)Prompt: S stands for side, A for angle, R for right angle and H for hypotenuse.
  2. Two triangles have two sides and a non-included angle equal (SSA). Must they be congruent? (Yes / No) → NoPrompt: Could you draw two different triangles that both fit the description?
  3. Two triangles have only two pairs of sides equal. Must they be congruent? (Yes / No) → NoPrompt: Could you draw two different triangles that both fit the description?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a photo of a building, a tile pattern or a road sign and ask what shapes and angles students can spot.
  • Share the objective: Choose the congruence test (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, RHS). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Triangles ABC and DEF have: ∠A = ∠D, AB = DE, ∠B = ∠E. Which test proves they are congruent?
  • Step 1: ASA
  • Answer: ASA
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Triangles ABC and DEF have: AB = DE, ∠B = ∠E, BC = EF. Which test proves they are congruent? (AAS / Not enough to prove congruence / SSS / SAS) → SASPrompt: Count the sides (S) and angles (A) given, and notice their order.
  2. Triangles GHI and JKL have GH = JK and HI = KL. Which extra fact would prove them congruent by SSS? (GH = KL / ∠G = ∠J / ∠H = ∠K / IG = LJ) → IG = LJPrompt: Write the letters of the test in order around the triangle.

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Triangles GHI and JKL have ∠G = ∠J and ∠H = ∠K. Which extra fact would prove them congruent by ASA? (GH = JK / ∠I = ∠L / HI = KL / IG = LJ) → GH = JKPrompt: Write the letters of the test in order around the triangle.
  2. Triangles ABC and DEF have: AB = DE, BC = EF, CA = FD. Which test proves they are congruent? (SAS / Not enough to prove congruence / RHS (hypotenuse–leg) / SSS) → SSSPrompt: Count the sides (S) and angles (A) given, and notice their order.

Watch out for

  • Thinking a square turned on its corner is no longer a square.
  • Reading the wrong scale on a protractor.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Congruent triangles.
  • Use concrete materials: rulers and protractors.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Choose the congruence test (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, RHS)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Triangles ABC and DEF have: AB = DE, ∠B = ∠E, BC = EF. Which test proves they are congruent?

    • A. SAS
    • B. SSS
    • C. ASA
    • D. RHS (hypotenuse–leg)
  2. Question 2

    Triangles ABC and DEF have AB = DE and BC = EF. Which extra fact would prove them congruent by SSS?

    • A. ∠B = ∠E
    • B. CA = FD
    • C. AB = EF
    • D. ∠A = ∠D
  3. Question 3

    Triangles ABC and DEF have: AB = DE, BC = EF, ∠A = ∠D (the angle is not between the sides). Which test proves they are congruent?

    • A. AAS
    • B. Not enough to prove congruence
    • C. RHS (hypotenuse–leg)
    • D. ASA
  4. Question 4

    Triangles ABC and DEF have: ∠C = ∠F = 90°, hypotenuse AB = DE, AC = DF. Which test proves they are congruent?

    • A. SSS
    • B. AAS
    • C. ASA
    • D. RHS (hypotenuse–leg)
  5. Question 5

    Triangles PQR and XYZ have PQ = XY and QR = YZ. Which extra fact would prove them congruent by SAS?

    • A. ∠R = ∠Z
    • B. RP = YZ
    • C. ∠Q = ∠Y
    • D. ∠P = ∠X
  6. Question 6

    Triangles ABC and DEF have: ∠A = ∠D, ∠B = ∠E, ∠C = ∠F. Which test proves they are congruent?

    • A. Not enough to prove congruence
    • B. ASA
    • C. SSS
    • D. AAS
  7. Question 7

    Triangles KLM and STU have ∠K = ∠S and ∠L = ∠T. Which extra fact would prove them congruent by ASA?

    • A. LM = TU
    • B. KL = ST
    • C. MK = US
    • D. ∠M = ∠U
  8. Question 8

    Triangles ABC and DEF have: ∠A = ∠D, ∠B = ∠E, BC = EF. Which test proves they are congruent?

    • A. SAS
    • B. RHS (hypotenuse–leg)
    • C. SSS
    • D. AAS

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Answer key: Choose the congruence test (SSS, SAS, ASA, AAS, RHS)

  1. 1. A. SAS

  2. 2. B. CA = FD

  3. 3. B. Not enough to prove congruence

  4. 4. D. RHS (hypotenuse–leg)

  5. 5. C. ∠Q = ∠Y

  6. 6. A. Not enough to prove congruence

  7. 7. B. KL = ST

  8. 8. D. AAS