TES Maths: Inspect the spec - trigonometry

Hand-picked resources to support the teaching of trigonometry as part of the new GCSE specification

Everyone is talking about functions and frequency trees, but what else has changed with the advent of the new specification? And what resources are available to help? Throughout this series, TES Maths aims to find out.

What does the specification say?

The expectation is that:

• All students will develop confidence and competence with the content identified by standard type
• All students will be assessed on the content identified by the standard and the underlined type; more highly attaining students will develop confidence and competence with all of this content
• Only the more highly attaining students will be assessed on the content identified by bold type. The highest attaining students will develop confidence and competence with the bold content.

What's the same?

In many ways, questions on trigonometry will look exactly as they always have. Students will still be presented with right-angled triangles and be expected to work out missing sides and angles. And the highest attaining students will still have to deal with the twists and turns of 3D and non-right-angled triangles. It is likely that questions will continue to be asked in this context, fused together with topics such as bearings.

What has changed?

The biggest change is that 2D trigonometry with right-angled triangles is now a topic in the foundation course. While only those sitting the higher paper will be expected to "develop confidence and competence" in the topic, all students - no matter which tier they're in - will be faced with the delights of SOHCAHTOA.

In terms of content, all students now have to understand the exact values of trigonometric ratios, which were previously reserved for A-level courses. The introduction of exact values drastically increases the likelihood of trigonometry making an appearance on the non-calculator paper, and I wouldn't be surprised if questions on the higher paper require students to not only demonstrate their knowledge of exact values using cos(30) or sin(60), but also their ability to work with surds.

Additionally, higher students will also have to find the angle between a line and a plane. Although 3D trigonometry may have been covered as part of the previous specification, it's worth double-checking that it is included this time round as well.

How can TES Maths can help?

As ever, the wonderfully talented authors of the TES Maths community have stepped up to the mark to lend a hand. Here is a selection of my favourite resources to help support the teaching of this topic:

1. Introduction to trigonometry
   ​With foundation students now expected to know trigonometry, the way that you introduce the topic will be crucial. This well-structured lesson provides an excellent starting point.
2. Complete trigonometry unit
   This fully resourced lesson sequence takes students on a journey from SOHCAHTOA, to the sine and cosine rules, via 3D trigonometry and angles of elevation and depression.
3. SOHCAHTOA-focused lesson
   Packed with lots of varied activities, this differentiated lesson uses Bloom's taxonomy questioning to ensure students have got to grips with the basics.
4. Trigonometry investigation
   Get your students measuring angles and lines in order to become familiar with the values of sin(30), cos(60) and tan(45).
5. Finding and applying trigonometric ratios
   Demonstrate where the three exact trigonometric values come from, using this well-designed lesson presentation and worksheet pack. 
6. Discovering exact trigonometric values
   Encourage students to become familiar with "special triangles", in order to calculate exact trigonometric values without a calculator, using this set of worksheets.
7. 3D trigonometry introduction
   Including a starter and plenary activity, this step-by-step lesson uses illustrations to explain the relationship between trigonometry and 3D shapes.
8. Full 3D trigonometry lesson
   Starting with a recap of the basics, this detailed lesson covers many aspects of trigonometry, including how to find the angle between a line and a plane.
9. Solving 3D problems
   Consolidate students' understanding of 3D trigonometry by setting them these higher-level problems, guaranteed to make them think.

Craig Barton, TES Maths adviser

Craig is a secondary maths teacher in the North of England.

Find more resources to support the changes to the GCSE maths specification by taking a look at the rest of the series.