Math Is Everywhere PBL (5 student jobs, 25 lesson plans)

Project Description:
Check out our final Math Is Everywhere News Segment
All too often math is seen as a subject that is in a world of it’s own, taught in isolation with little to no real world connection. Math is all around us. Often we don’t realize it. This project focuses on how the math skills that the students are learning in their everyday math instruction are used in the real world. Math can help us shop wisely, read maps, plan travel, buy the right car, keep us healthy, excel in sports and follow our dreams.

In this project, students engage in investigations on a topic of their choice of how the math skills they are learning in the classroom are used in real life. They work to complete individual tasks as well as work together as a group to collect data and research the real world application of how math is used in our community, nation and across the world. Students reflect and engage in conversations about different jobs that require a specific math skill and how knowing the math skill helps within that job. They work to find specific real world examples of how math is used in life.

This project may be completed in a few weeks with a focus on a specific math skills, or may be spread out across a semester or entire school year to capture more real world examples of how math is used in our world today.

Final Product(s):
Students use what they learn about how math is used around the world to create a print, digital or video to share with their class, school, community or the world. Each student completes a job that will become a section of the final presentation. Their jobs include a visual and written and spoken description related to math is everywhere. Students are required to use 2 sources, report facts, cite sources and will get their stories approved by the teacher before reporting.

Considerations:
•Students MUST keep their audience in mind in choosing stories to report on. If it doesn’t interest them, it won’t interest their audience.
•This project focuses on answering the the following questions.
•Why is this math skill important?
•Why do we need to learn this?
•When will I ever use this?
•Where can I find a real world example?
•How does this math skill help people in our community, throughout our nation and across the world?

Type of Project: Simulation/ real student run
News Program

Driving Question: How does a newscast help us communicate with one another? How is math used in the real world?

Tangible Outcomes: Student Newscast Segment: Math Is Everywhere

Timeframe: This project is designed to take 2 weeks but may be extended over a longer time period) We produce a new broadcast every 2 weeks for the entire school year.

Materials Needed: Video camera, laptops, PowerPoint, projector, tripod, iPad, lanyards, video creation tool such as iMovie, segment props. This can be adapted as an individual or group presentation.