GeoMath

Articulating Geography to Tested Mathematics Skills in Elementary Schools:

The Arizona Experience

What is GeoMath?

• designed for the K-8 classroom

• 85 “stand alone” lessons that enhance geography learning and practice math skills in contextual situations

Why GeoMath?No Child Left Behind (NCLB) means geography is

NOT being taught in most K-6 classrooms

• Teachers are spending most of the school day teaching reading, writing, and math

• Teacher pay is tied to student performance• Schools are labeled as to “performing” or

“underperforming” with rewards and punishments forthcoming

• Our survey shows that K-6 teachers are spending less than 30 minutes per week on geography in most Arizona classrooms

Why GeoMath?

• Integration of geography and mathematics means that students will still be learning geography

• Using geography content can improve student performance on math skills

Who funded the development of the GeoMath Project?

What are some of the features of GeoMath?

• “Stand Alone” lessons• Hands-On activities• Real life applications• Teacher inspired• Everything you need

to teach the lessons

What are features unique to GeoMath?• Student worksheets• Answer keys• Student samples• Animations• Copyright free

images• Extension ideas

• Maps and more maps

• Content rich reading (National Geographic Society books and current children’s literature)

• Assessments

More Specialized Maps Created by the Cartography Department at Arizona State University

• Primary Level Road Map

• Bird’s Eye View• World Time Zones• U.S. Natural Disasters• Physical Regions of the

U.S.• Explorers’ Trails

Through AZ

Which AZ school districts piloted the lessons?

Bisbee Blue Cartwright Catholic Diocese Chandler Cottonwood Deer Valley Flagstaff Gilbert Glendale Homeschoolers Kingman

Kyrene Madison Mesa Payson Peoria Private Schools Round Valley Sacaton Scottsdale Sierra Vista Sunnyside Tucson Washington

What kind of students were in the piloting program?

• 2,671 Students with a Diverse Background (see below)

• 10% were English Language Learners

• 31% were from low income families

Student Ethnicity

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

White Black Asian NativeAmerican

Hispanic

K,34,56,8State

Does GeoMath teach math?

• Pre Test Average 46.37%

• Post Test Average 69.78%

Improvement of 23.41%

Does GeoMath teach math?

And teachers reported that they felt more comfortable teaching these math skills after the GeoMath lesson.

What kinds of math are being taught?

Analyzing geographical information using charts and graphs

Measuring using map scale Using stem-and-leaf, box-and-

whiskers, and scatter plots to analyze climate information

Learning about positive and negative numbers using elevation

Learning shapes and making maps

Finding tessellations in Moroccan mosaics

Determining percentages of foreign born Americans and religions in Jerusalem

Finding measures of central tendency using elevation of the Grand Canyon

Using ZIP codes to learn about mathematical codes

Sorting and classifying using U.S. postcards

Does GeoMath teach geography?

Over half of students scored 80% or higher level on the assessments provided in the lesson

What sort of technology is needed?• Any computer that

has a web browser• Internet is only

needed to access websites which can be additional resources

• CD is for instructor’s use

How can I get more information?

Contact: Gale Olp Ekiss(GBEkiss@aol.com)

or go to http://alliance.la.asu.edu/azga/