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Unit Circle Projects

After years of seeing other teachers share pictures of the unit circle projects their students created, I decided to finally take the plunge.  I assigned my trig students the task of creating a visual representation (2d or 3d) of the unit circle in lieu of a semester test in trigonometry.

A nice side effect of this projects is that now I have a lot more student work decorating my classroom!  I teach mostly Algebra 1, so it’s been fun to see these students notice the projects and start to ask questions about what a unit circle is!

Looking through the projects, the biggest problem my students are having is wanting to space all of the angles evenly.  Though, the fact that they most likely don’t have protractors at home is probably the main culprit!

Here’s what they came up with!  (Be sure to scroll to the bottom to see how one student combined his passions for welding and trigonometry!)

Unit Circle Flower

unit circle project - flower example

Unit Circle Clock

Unit Circle Clock Project

Phases of the Unit Circle

Phases of the Unit Circle Project

(You’ll have to excuse the fact that my feet ended up in the shot. Oops…  At least I was wearing cute shoes.)

The Unit Dollar

The Unit Dollar Project

Yes, it does say “In the mullet we trust.”

Unit Circle Alien

Alien Unit Circle Project

Unit Circle Pi-cycle

Unit Circle Pi-Cycle Project

Unit Circle Ferris Wheel

Ferris Wheel Project Unit Circle

Unit Circle Saw Blade

This is the unit circle project that has generated the most conversation amongst my students from other classes.

Unit Circle Saw Blade Project

More Activities and Resources for Teaching the Unit Circle

Stephanie

Thursday 18th of February 2021

Do you have the instructions you gave the students available for us to see?

Sarah Carter

Friday 19th of February 2021

I just checked my school files for that year, and I unfortunately cannot find the instructions I handed out. Sorry!

Anonymous

Monday 24th of February 2020

Have you posted the rubric/directions for this project?

Nancy in Indiana

Monday 19th of December 2016

Very cool!

Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)

Wednesday 19th of April 2017

My students continually impress me with their creativity!

Unknown

Monday 19th of December 2016

I would love to see them too. I would like to do this after winter break as we co e back for a week left. Did you give them any in class time to work on this? If so, what did the student who welded his project do? Thank you for all you share!!!

Liz K

Sunday 18th of December 2016

I would love the directions also ... I am teaching Pre-Calculus next year and would like to incorporate this project

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