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Teacher Page

1. RATIONALE

This project was designed as an integrated project for 6th grade math and humanities students.

HUMANITIES

The humanities social studies curriculum focuses on the Eastern Hemisphere. The chronology of this period is abstract and remote from the students' experience. The geography is vast. This project provides visual representation of both the chronology and the geography as the students research mathematical history and locate their concept on the timeline and the map.

MATH

Why do we need to know this? When are we ever going to use this?

Middle school students learn best when they can relate concepts and ideas to their own experience. Math topics and concepts are often seen as something done only in math class. Students cannot see the relevance of math to real life and practical problem solving.

This project provides an opportunity to think about how big math ideas, such as place value and zero, were developed. Learning that early math discoveries were driven by practical need such as trading goats or dividing land is powerful.

Thinking about life without zero or place value can engender a powerful appreciation of mathematics and early civilizations

2. STANDARDS

MATHEMATICS STANDARDS

STANDARD 1. The student understands and applies the concepts and procedures of mathematics

1.1 NUMBER SENSE

* Explores primes, composites, greatest common factor/divisor, least common multiple, and prime factorization, and applies these understandings in solving real-world problems

STANDARD 4. The student communicates knowledge and understanding in both everyday and mathematical language

4.1 Gathers information

4.2 Organizes and interprets information

4.3 Represents and shares information

* Develops a plan for collecting information
* Uses reading, listening, and observation skills to access and extract mathematical information from multiple sources such as pictures, diagrams, and physical models
* Organizes and clarifies mathematical information by reflecting, verbalizing, discussing, and/or writing
* Clearly and effectively expresses or presents ideas and situations using both everyday and mathematical languages such as models, tables, charts, graphs, written reflection, or algebraic notation
* Expresses mathematical ideas with clarity using both everyday and mathematical language appropriate to the audience

Standard 5. The student understands how mathematical ideas connect within mathematics, to other subject areas, and to real-life situations

5.1 Relates concepts and procedures within mathematics

5.2 Relates mathematical concepts and procedures to other disciplines

5.3 Relates mathematical concepts and procedures to real-life situations

* Connects conceptual and procedural understanding among different mathematical content areas
* Relates and uses different mathematical models and representations for the same situation
* Identifies mathematical patterns and ideas in other disciplines
* Uses mathematical thinking and modeling in other disciplines
* Recognizes the extensive use of mathematics outside the classroom (e.g., in banking and sports statistics)

Seattle Public Schools | Math6

HUMANITIES STANDARDS

1.1 HISTORY - Understands and analyzes historical time and chronology
* Investigates and describes basic elements of civilizations and their interrelationships by studying selected civilizations from around the world
* Understands the chronology and interactions between ancient civilizations

2. SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS: Interpersonal and Group Process Skills
* Listens critically
* Participates in group presentations
* Identifies appropriate people to gain needed information

2.2 HISTORY- Understands how ideas and technological developments influence people, culture, and environment
* Examines the impact of an idea on people, events, culture, and environment
* Describes how new technologies influence individuals and groups

1.1 GEOGRAPHY - Uses and constructs maps, charts, and other resources to gather and interpret geographic information
* Uses and constructs maps, charts, and diagrams using geographical tools to understand physical, political, and cultural features with an emphasis on ancient civilizations

1.5 READING: Uses features of nonfiction text and computer software
* Locates and reads varied sources on one topic or theme
* Understands and uses text features (e.g., bibliographies, chapter summaries, margin entries, symbols)
* Uses organizational features of electronic information (e.g., pull-down menus, key word searches, icons)

2.2 READING: Expands comprehension by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information and ideas
* Compares and contrasts texts or parts of text
* Uses thinking skills to increase understanding including ability to question, compare, summarize

Seattle Public Schools |Standards (Humanities)