Ratios for Real

Many students came back from Thanksgiving break fresh from a long weekend with NO HOMEWORK! Phew…they got away with not thinking about math for the entire weekend…or did they? As they slide back into their school routine, you may want to discuss where math might have snuck into their Thanksgiving break. Were any of them helping in the kitchen? They were probably working with ratios, proportions, and multiplication without even knowing it. Were they fighting over the last pieces of pumpkin pie? It was the study of fractions at work! Bringing these instances of “real-world” math to students’ attention can help them realize the prevalence of math in their everyday lives (and the importance of math when creating a tasty meal).

When students are soling real problems like how much sugar goes into a triple recipe of cranberries or how long their arm span is compared to their height, they get a unique sense of accomplishment when they figure out the answer. Students are finding solutions, not just answers on a worksheet or bubbles filled in on a multiple-choice test. The more often we can present problems in the context of this elusive “real world,” the better off students will be when they graduate and join the ranks of those of us out there in that “real world.” This week, Joann discussed creative ways to teach about ratios in your classroom (please see the link below). I am continuing on this theme. Let’s not solve abstract ratio problems on a paper…let’s DO ratios!

Both ratio resources I am featuring this week help students discover ratios, measurement, and algebra through the study of Leonardo da Vinci. Students study the art and mathematical theories of da Vinci and then begin measuring one another to test those theories. In Art, Nature, Ratios, and Graphing and Vitruvian Man, students compare the ratios they calculate from their own measurement data to the ideal proportions and ratios presented by da Vinci. Students find out for themselves whether or not the proportions of the Vitruvian man are accurate today. They also do some research to see if these proportions have changed in the time since da Vinci originally created the artwork. Both of these resources get students out from behind their desks and out into the classroom working together.

Bringing real-world math into the classroom has been the topic of a few of our previous weeks’ discussions on the Gateway. I am including links to three of these past posts that may be helpful as you work to bring a practical hands-on component into your math lessons.

In Teaching in the Real World…or The Missing Piece, I suggest that a real-world connection is often the “missing piece” in a teacher’s otherwise perfect presentation of a topic. I also discuss creating a network of educators (known as a PLN) where you can share ideas and discuss ways to connect your lessons to the real world. A good network of teachers can be very helpful and inspiring. The network can be in-person, or it can include teachers from all over the world who converse online. This particular post is about geometry, although the ideas are relevant for just about any subject area.

T.C.B.A. (This Can’t be Algebra) discusses how to connect algebra with students’ everyday lives. Although some students may not believe it, algebra is everywhere. The post includes some fun Gateway links with algebra activities that will wow and entertain your students while teaching them important skills.

Some kids (often girls) cave into peer pressure telling them that math is too hard. In Math Class is Tough! I discuss ways to overcome this paradigm, including some fun activities. Activities in this post are based on art and pattern building. These activities are fun for students and teachers. Teachers can set a good example by enjoying math themselves, so it’s nice to find activities that we can enjoy along with our students.

Good luck making it real to make it interesting this week. We are excited to bring you more useful tools for teaching in the near future. We will be working hard on them this holiday season. Stay tuned for more news!