Real Life Math Connections

Reflect on your own practice

How are you connecting real-life activities and
numeracy in your classroom?

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Real Life Math Connections March 12, 2013

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What the research says

ALL students need
to learn math
vocabulary and
relate these new
words to authentic
life experiences.

Use technology
to increase attention,
motivation and
opportunities for practice.

What the research says

By focusing on the language of mathematics
and the use of manipulative materials to
make mathematical situations real and
meaningful, we can help students construct
mathematical meaning that will serve them
in the real world.

What the research says...

Teaching math symbols

Use > every day to mean more

Use = to mean is or equals

Pair numerals in everyday experiences of

numbers even for pre-symbolic students

What the research says...

Concrete teach with hands-on
manipulatives and sensory
experiences.
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Semi-concrete teach with
representational materials to
bridge concrete objects and
abstract numbers.
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Abstract teach with numerals,
signs, and symbols.
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Create a meaningful context

Combine numeracy skills into one lesson and create

multiple opportunities to practice each skill.
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Embed skills in games, activities and stories
throughout the day.
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What the research says

Students need to
connect new
content with what
they already know.

Look for math!

How many slugs can we find in the playground?
What does 5 look like when we write it?
Can we count 5 other things?

Look for math!

Look for math!

Look for math!

Look for math!

Effective practice
When planning any numeracy learning activity ask:

What math
knowledge do all
students need to
know?

Effective practice
Use task analysis to design activities that have:
clear focus
limited number of steps

Effective practice
Using literature in math is effective because stories can
provide a schema for organizing facts.

What the research says

Students
benefit from
repeated,
frequent and
structured
practice.
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Real Life Math Connections March 12, 2013

What the research says

Learning math concepts
in real-life situations
provide students with
multiple and structured
opportunities to
generalize academic
concepts.

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Real Life Math Connections March 12, 2013

Importance of Repetition
and Variety in Learning

Dr. Caroline Musselwhite discusses the importance of meaningful repetition in learning,

particularly for students with significant disabilities.

Begin with a story

Begin with a math problem based on a real-life
situation from students lives.
1) Present problem as a story
2) Solve the problem
3) Apply solution back to real life

Generalization
Students need multiple opportunities to practice new
skills with different:
numbers
situations
peers

Transfer
Gradual release of responsibility
I do it.
WE do it
YOU do it!

Going deeper
Use real-life
experiences to
create deep
learning

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What would a real life, meaning-filled

learning activity look like?
Purposeful
Engaging
Puts knowledge to work
Supports multiple paths for all
learners to contribute

Sample of real-life math problem

Planting bulbs

Planting bulbs as a real-life

math experience
Activity

Math inquiry questions

Planting spring bulbs

Where should we plant the bulbs, in

a pot inside or outside?
How deep should we plant bulbs?
How far apart?

Care and maintenance

When and how often should we

water the bulbs?

How much water should we give

the bulbs?

measurement

Related math concept

measurement
days of the week, time,
calendar

How much fertilizer should we give measurement and ratio

the plants?
Observing growth

When we the bulbs bloom?

How many bulbs will bloom?

counting

What colours will the plants be?

graphing colours

How tall will the flowers be?

measurement, plotting growth

What will the plants look like?

sequencing

predicting, calendar

Alignment with curriculum

Math concept

Program of Studies

Measurement

Demonstrate an understanding of
measurement as a process of comparing by:
identifying attributes that can be compared
ordering objects
making statements of comparison
filling, covering or matching.

Counting

Demonstrate an understanding of counting by:

indicating that the last number said
identifies how many
showing that any set has only one count
using the counting-on strategy
using parts or equal groups to count sets.

Representing

Represent and describe numbers to 20, concretely,

pictorially and symbolically.

(graphing)

Your turn!
How can these three examples of real-life
experiences be used to create deep learning
of math concepts?
feeding fish
class recycling
baking cupcakes

Activities

Math inquiry questions

Related math concepts

Your turn
Brainstorm real-life situations of your students that
could be turned into engaging math story problems.

Your challenge!

What would a real life, meaning-filled

learning activity look like for...
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Number Sense
Patterns and Relations
Measurement
Shape and Space
Statistics and Probability

Birch Bay Ranch

Every year, our grade sixes go on a camping trip to Birch Bay Ranch. There is a great deal of
planning involved and students can contribute to this. We have to put students into groups,
do calculations of cost, and create schedules. We work with addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, time, and ratios to plan the trip.

Classroom Fundraiser
For a classroom fundraiser in January, we will be offering a
hot lunch to students in our school. This means we need to
choose what we will offer for lunch and work out all of the
details to make it a success!

Counting Milk Orders

Socks without Holes

12 Days of Christmas
This is an inclusive project for grade 3 that is integrated with the Social Studies curriculum.
We have two students with complex needs in each of our grade 3 classrooms. It will be
their job to deliver the 'gift' of Christmas to the receiving class each day. Each gift will
relate to the various strands of mathematics and will include application and problem
solving.