I love to travel. I love everything about it.
I love packing for a trip, trying to carry as little as possible while still having everything I need. I love to fly with just a carry on bag and no checked luggage as it lets you move through a country so much quicker with less 'stuff.'
I love exploring a new town and trying the foods recommended by locals.
Oh my goodness, I could ramble about traveling for HOURS.
But this post is about traveling in MATH class.
WHHAAATTT????
Yes, it is possible to combine math and travel!
1. Let students research prices.
They can look up prices for flights, hotel accommodations, and apply them to a budget. This is GREAT real life application of adding and subtracting decimals skills!
2. Use Google Forms™ to practice math and learn about another country.
For my students, I created Google Forms™ where each correct math problem gives them a fact about a country. They love to 'travel around a country' while remaining in math class! You can make these yourself or feel free to use mine. Click the link below!
3. Let your word problems teach them about more than math.
Instead of writing a word problem about Sam buying 425 watermelons at the grocery store (seriously, who does that?!?!), make your math word problems involve traveling in other countries. You've got to give them word problems anyway for practice, it might as well involve something fun like exploring another country!
4. Let them travel the world as they attempt to not lose their luggage.
One of the favorite activities of my students is my World Travel Activity where incorrect answers mean they have lost their luggage while traveling the world! This math activity reviews several skills and builds an enjoyment of travel all at the same time! Link is below!
World Race
5. Passports and stamps!
Students can design their own "math passport" and receive a stamp for each 'country' they visit as they get a math problem correct! This can be great practice before state testing as each unit of study can represent a different country.
As you can see, there are a TON of ways to include traveling within your math classroom! However you decide to incorporate travel in your math class will be a HIT with your students! How do you include traveling? Let me know as this travel junkie may want to include your ideas in her classroom as well!
Have passport. Will travel.