Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Parallel and Perpendicular Lines Lesson Plan

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Parallel and Perpendicular Lines, and supports the standard of identifying perpendicular and parallel lines in two-dimensional figures. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display images of parallel and perpendicular lines, like these from the movie (timestamps 0:37 and 1:23 respectively):

Prompt students to share what they notice about each pair of lines. Ask:

  • Where have you seen lines like a and b in shapes? What about lines g and f? 

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the Parallel and Perpendicular Lines topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Assign Related Reading. Have students read one of these two articles to read: “Language” or “Gadgets.” Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Assign the Parallel and Perpendicular Lines Quiz, prompting students to apply essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about parallel and perpendicular lines while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Produce a tutorial explaining how to determine whether two lines are parallel or perpendicular. 
  • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying examples of parallel and perpendicular lines in your classroom.
  • Creative Coding: Code a sorting game challenging players to determine whether shapes have parallel lines, perpendicular lines, both, or neither. 

More to Explore 

Sortify: Angles: ​​Players sort angles by attribute, such as size, relationships between lines, and more in this learning game.  

Teacher Support Resources: