In a hands-on learning experience blending mathematics and real-world exploration, students in Ms. Elydia Gonzalez's math classes at La Joya Early College took to the school grounds equipped with clinometers to measure their surroundings.
Under Ms. Gonzalez's guidance, the students embarked on a journey of discovery. Their objective? To apply trigonometric knowledge in measuring various objects and structures across the school campus.
"The idea behind this activity was to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application," explained Ms. Gonzalez. "By taking math outside of the classroom and into the real world, students not only grasp the concepts more effectively but also develop a greater appreciation for the subject."
With the help of clinometers, tape measures, and notebooks in hand, students eagerly measured the height of trees, the angle of the school building's roof, and other items in their environment. Working in teams, they carefully aligned their clinometers and recorded measurements, applying trigonometric formulas to calculate object heights and distances for objects they’d never given much thought to.
"This activity made math something we could see and touch," Andrew Alaniz, one of the students involved, said. "Instead of only crunching numbers on a page, we got to see how math can be used to answer real-world questions. It was challenging but fun."
Ms. Gonzalez hopes these experiences will deepen her students' understanding of mathematics and foster a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.
"Mathematics is everywhere," Gonzalez said, "by encouraging students to explore and measure their surroundings, they get to see math in the world around us."
