"When Will I Ever Use Math In Real Life?"

"WHEN WILL I EVER USE MATH IN REAL LIFE?"

This dubious question from 8th graders can serve either as an excuse for avoiding learning math or, if we assume best intentions, an earnest request into the applicability of the concepts we are learning in class. Math teachers have always known that math is anywhere and everywhere. A big part of our job as teachers is to point kids in the direction of math in their everyday life and let them dive in.

Thomas Petra, a veteran math teacher of over 20 years, has developed a free website called Real World Math that contains lessons based on Google Earth aimed at kids in grades 5-10. The purpose of the site is for students to use what they already know and to learn new skills like critical thinking and problem solving on their own terms.

Here’s a KQED article about the website:

Looking For Real-World Math Problems? Try Google Earth!

Here’s the website:

Real World Math