• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In
lenny

Math & Me: Our Unique Paths

user image

Lauren Singer

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Math & Me: Our Unique Paths Lesson Plan

Students will identify and articulate at least two connections between their personal identity, cultural background, or daily experiences and mathematical concepts or applications.

Understanding how math connects to our diverse lives makes learning more relevant, engaging, and personal, showing that everyone has a unique "math story."

Audience

8th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Discussion, Reflection, and Sharing.

Materials

  • Slide Deck: Math & Me, - Warm Up: Math Connections, - Activity: My Math Identity Map, - Discussion Guide: Sharing Our Stories, and - Cool Down: My Math Takeaway

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review all generated materials: Lesson Plan: Math & Me, Slide Deck: Math & Me, Warm Up: Math Connections, Activity: My Math Identity Map, Discussion Guide: Sharing Our Stories, and Cool Down: My Math Takeaway.
  • Prepare white board or chart paper for a class brainstorm if desired.

Step 1

Warm-Up & Introduction

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Warm Up: Math Connections activity.
  • Instruct students to complete the warm-up individually.
  • After a few minutes, invite students to share one or two thoughts from their warm-up with a partner or the class.

Step 2

Slide Deck & Discussion

10 minutes

  • Present the Slide Deck: Math & Me.
  • Facilitate discussion prompts on the slides, encouraging students to consider how their backgrounds intersect with mathematical ideas.

Step 3

Activity: My Math Identity Map

10 minutes

  • Distribute the Activity: My Math Identity Map.
  • Explain the instructions: Students will brainstorm and map connections between their personal identity (culture, hobbies, family, passions) and mathematical concepts or applications.
  • Circulate and provide support as students work.

Step 4

Share & Discuss

5 minutes

  • Invite students to share a connection from their Activity: My Math Identity Map with the class (or small groups).
  • Use the Discussion Guide: Sharing Our Stories to facilitate a brief, engaging conversation about the diverse ways math shows up in our lives and how our identities shape our perspectives on math.
  • Emphasize that there's no single
lenny

Slide Deck

Math & Me: Our Unique Paths

How do your experiences shape your understanding of numbers?

Welcome students and introduce the idea of connecting personal identity to math. Emphasize that math is everywhere and for everyone. You can start by asking them what comes to mind when they hear "math" and "identity" together.

What Makes YOU, YOU?

Your identity is made up of many things:

  • Culture & Family Traditions
  • Hobbies & Interests
  • Languages you speak
  • Where you live
  • Your favorite subjects (yes, even math!)
  • Your unique ways of thinking!

Lead a quick brainstorm about what identity means to students. Encourage diverse responses, highlighting that identity is multifaceted and includes various aspects of their lives, not just visible traits.

Math in the Wild

Math isn't just in textbooks!

  • Cooking (measurements, ratios)
  • Sports (angles, scores, statistics)
  • Music (rhythm, patterns)
  • Art (geometry, symmetry)
  • Shopping (discounts, budgets)
  • Building & Design (measurements, proportions)

Ask students for examples of math they've seen outside of school, especially in connection to their hobbies, family life, or cultural experiences. This helps make math relatable.

Crafting Your Math Story

Think about how your identity connects to math.

  • Do you use math in a family recipe?
  • Does your culture have unique patterns or counting systems?
  • Is math part of your favorite game or sport?
  • Do you see geometric shapes in your neighborhood?

Explain that students will be creating a "Math Identity Map" to explore these connections. Introduce the Activity: My Math Identity Map. Encourage them to think broadly and creatively.

Diverse Minds, Richer Math

When we share our unique math stories, we:

  • See math in new ways
  • Learn from each other
  • Build a stronger, more inclusive math community

Prepare to transition to the Activity: My Math Identity Map and then facilitate the Discussion Guide: Sharing Our Stories. Remind students that all connections are valid and that diversity of thought enriches learning.

lenny

Warm Up

Math Connections: What Comes to Mind?

Take a few minutes to think about and answer the questions below. You can write your thoughts or draw quick sketches.

  1. When you hear the word "math," what's the first thing you think of?






  2. What's one thing you really enjoy doing outside of school?






  3. Do you think there's any math in that enjoyable activity? If so, where? If not, why not?











lenny
lenny

Activity

My Math Identity Map

Instructions:

  1. In the center box, write "ME." This represents your unique self.
  2. Around "ME," write down different aspects of your identity in the surrounding boxes (e.g., family, culture, hobbies, talents, languages, community, favorite foods, traditions).
  3. From each aspect of your identity, draw lines and write down how that part of you connects to math. Think about:
    • Culture/Family: Are there patterns in art, traditions, or recipes? Counting systems? Family finances?
    • Hobbies/Sports: Are there measurements, scores, strategies, angles, or statistics? How about game strategy?
    • Languages: Do different languages have different number systems or ways of describing quantities?
    • Community: How is math used in local businesses, city planning, or community events?
    • Personal Interests: How does math relate to your favorite video games, music, or art? Are there algorithms or patterns?

Be creative! There are no wrong answers. The goal is to see how your life is full of math!

Your Math Identity Map

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|  [Identity Aspect] --------> [Math Connection]             |
|                                                             |
|  [Identity Aspect] --------> [Math Connection]             |
|               ^                                             |
|               |                                             |
|  [Identity Aspect] <------  [      ME      ] ------> [Math Connection]
|               |                                             |
|               v                                             |
|  [Identity Aspect] --------> [Math Connection]             |
|                                                             |
|  [Identity Aspect] --------> [Math Connection]             |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































lenny
lenny

Discussion

Sharing Our Stories: Math and Identity Discussion

Use these prompts to guide a class discussion after students have completed their "My Math Identity Map" activities.

Discussion Prompts:

  1. What was one surprising math connection you made on your identity map? Share with a partner first, then with the class.






  2. How does seeing math in different parts of our lives, especially connected to our own identities, change how you feel about math class?






  3. Why do you think it's important for us to recognize that everyone has a unique "math story" and way of connecting to math?











  4. How can we use our diverse experiences and perspectives to help each other learn math better in this classroom? Think about specific ways we can support one another.












  5. What's one new idea you have about math or yourself as a math learner after this activity?






lenny
lenny

Cool Down

My Math Takeaway

Instructions: Before you leave, reflect on today's lesson. Complete the sentence below:

One thing I learned or realized today about math and identity is...












lenny
lenny