The Effect of Using Hands-on Materials in Teaching Pythagoras Theorem

Abstract

This study sought to improve students’ performance in solving problems on the application of the Pythagoras Theorem using hands - on materials. It is an action research and the selected sample of the study was mixed gender class of level 200 (2A1 Class) year group, comprising of forty (40) students in Wiawso College of Education. It involved the use of pre –test and post –test as the methods for data collection. The pre-test was conducted after which an intervention period of four weeks, which involved taking the students through the concept of the application of Pythagoras theorem. A post-test was also conducted after the intervention, the scores obtained from the pre-test and post-test were analyzed by the use of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that after the intervention, students were able to overcome the challenges they faced when solving story problems and problems on 3-dimensions involving the Pythagoras Theorem. They could also identify shapes depicting the concept of the Pythagoras’ theorem and construction of squares on each side of a right triangle. From the findings it was concluded that the use of hands-on materials in the intervention processes has help improved students understanding and performance.