Did you ever find yourself wondering why you had to learn the Pythagorean theorem? Did you ponder what the broader purpose might be of knowing the difference between a simile and a metaphor? Your students are probably going to wonder about the same kinds of things. What can you tell them? Better yet, what can you do to clarify the connection between what students learn in school and what they'll need to know in life outside of school?
The most immediate strategy, the one that avoids long explanations and rolling eyes, is to make your instruction immediately applicable to students' lives. You can do this through teaching content that touches on their interests, or by making the learning process experiential so students are "learning by doing."
Here are some examples, comment on this blog and send us yours!
Eastern Market Rebuilding Unit
Math - students study the geometry of the building and learn how to use geometry to draw up designs for its rebuilding, or, students study the financial aspects of the rebuilding campaign and create a plan based on researched costs of building materials, labor, permits, etc. to evaluate the overall cost of the project.
Social Studies - students study the history of the building and interview current vendors working there about it's future to create a report about the significance of Eastern Market to DC.
Language Arts - students interview vendors at Eastern Market and write short biographies of each that can be complied into a book, or, students write persuasive letters to local business leaders asking for additional funding to support the reconstruction effort.
DC United Soccer Stadium Unit
Math - students study the cost of the proposed stadium in SE, and use research to create a financial plan for fundraising for the project, or, students look at stadium designs and create and solve math problems about designs that accommodate the greatest number of fans in the smallest amount of space.
Language Arts/Social Studies - students look at the pros and cons of building the stadium, and research articles documenting local political views on the subject to create a well-justified essay taking a side on the issue.
Science - students investigate the various surfaces used in soccer stadiums, they may even practice growing different types of sod, and devise an experiment to test out and determine the best surface for a new stadium.
