When it comes to the application of math in the real life, pictures speak louder than words. As students, we can all attest to the fact that seeing is believing. That’s why images are such a powerful tool when it comes to learning math. In this blog post, we will explore how real images can help students see how math is used in the world around them. We’ll look at examples of how math is used, and discuss ways that teachers can use images to help students learn.
Do you like the idea of using a Math Alphabet chart in your classroom? Download a sample here.
Maths in Real Life
It can be hard to see how maths is used in our everyday lives. We often take for granted the many ways in which mathematical concepts are applied, without even realizing it. Images can help us to see the hidden math all around us.
The book “The Greedy Triangle” is the perfect example of showing students how different shapes are found all around us. As the triangle changes into different shapes, it gets to explore the big wide world! Fantastic examples! If you haven’t seen this book before, definitely check it out!
Another fantastic picture story book that shows maths in the real world is Elevator Magic. The characters travel up and down in the elevator and work out how many floors the elevator is moving. Perfect for counting forward and backwards.
If students can apply their learning in the classroom to places and things outside of the classroom, they will better understand what they learning and have better success in remembering it!
How to Use Images in the Classroom
So how can teachers make use of images to help their students learn?
One way is to use them as a starting point for discussion. Ask your students what they see in the image, and how it relates to what they are learning in class. For example, if you are discussing fractions how some photos of fractions in the real world; window panes, pizzas, pies, houses, clocks, cooking, cake, money and liquid measurements.
Looking at images and discussing what they see is the perfect launch into a new topic or a warm up to your lesson.
Another way to use images is as a prompt for writing. Give your students a picture and ask them to describe what is happening in the image, or to tell a story based on the image. This is a great way to get creative and have some fun with maths!
Finally, you can use images to create math problems for your students to solve. This is a great way to get students thinking critically about the application of math in the real world. For example, you could give them a picture of a building and ask them to calculate the area or perimeter, or you could give them a picture of a group of objects and ask them to sort the objects.
Heading Outside for Learning
Another way to help students see how math is used in real life is to take them oustide the classroom! There are all sorts of places where mathematical concepts are put into practice every day.
A few ideas include:
- finding different types of lines and angles on buildings and playgrounds around the school
- find different shapes in the playground
- look at car license plates in the staff car park, read and record in correct place value
- look at the number of steps on the stairs and calculate how many they would need to go up if they took 10 steps each time
All of these activities provide opportunities for students to see how math is used in everyday life, in a way that is relevant and interesting to them. It also helps to make connections between the classroom and the real world around them.
Using Posters that Show Math in the Real World
I have some great posters available that show how math is used in the real world. These make for great discussion starters, or can be used in your classroom to help students what they are learning and the world around them.
With a little imagination, you can help your students see math in the world around them.
Don’t forget to download your FREE Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division posters!
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