Math and Science

The math teacher can teach students about exponential notation. Once students become proficient in reading and writing numbers in exponential form, and in converting numbers between exponential form, factor form, and standard form, they can apply this knowledge to topics in science. For example, they can write the distance between the sun and each planet using scientific notation. For advanced students, you can teach them about negative exponents and then look at the half-life of certain radioactive elements, or at the size of bacteria and viruses. Try our WebQuest on Exponents and Scientific Notation. 

Math and Social Studies

After teaching a unit on how to read, interpret, and draw graphs, you can have your students apply these skills to topics in Social Studies. For example, they can draw bar graphs to compare the Population, Per Capita Income, and Population Density of various countries. For other connections between math and social studies, try our Lessons on Integers.

Math and Writing

One of the things stressed by standardized tests is the ability to answer open-ended questions. Typically, students are asked to provide written explanations. This assesses their ability to express their mathematical ideas in written form. To help them prepare for these types of questions, I do a math project that involves writing. I ask students to answer several open-ended questions using full sentences. The Math Teacher can grade students based on the mathematical correctness of their responses. The Language Arts or English Teacher can grade them on spelling and grammar. Some sample questions are provided below from topics in Number Theory and Percent.

1. Is 27 prime or composite? Explain your answer.
2. Is 2⁵ the same as 2 x 5? Explain why or why not.
3. Name 4 numbers that are factors of 24. Explain your answer.
4. Is 25% of 80 the same as 80% of 25? Explain your answer.
5. If 2⁹ equals 512, then find 2¹⁰ with only one multiplication. Explain your answer.

Math and Sports

Students can compute the percent win-loss of games played by their favorite sports teams. They can find data on teams in their school, or they can find data for professional teams online and in the newspapers. You can bring this activity into the computer lab by placing all the data in a spreadsheet. A formula can be used to compute the percent win-loss. Try our interactive lessons on Percent. Students will find many other connections between math and sports with our Integer Football Game. 

Math and The History of Computers

Students can examine the binary number system. They can look at the relationship between base 2 numbers and how computer circuitry was developed. The history of computers can be studied from the invention of the ENIAC through today's wireless devices. View some Stories About Famous Mathematicians. You can also visit The MacTutor History of Mathematics archive and History of Mathematics.

Math and Technology: Round-Off Error

If you divide the numerator of a fraction by its denominator, and the result is a repeating decimal, your calculator will not display the results with 100% accuracy. This is because repeating decimals have an infinite number of digits and calculators can only compute to a finite number of digits. This phenomenon, known as round-off error, also applies to computers. You can use this topic to integrate math and technology in your classroom. Students will marvel at the way different calculators and computers display varying results when they experiment with fractions such as 2/3, 5/6 or 8/9. Read our creative teaching idea entitled: Repeating Decimals and The Monster That Wouldn’t Die. You can also view our resources for Math and Technology.