Scholastic has launched a new web-based curriculum series for middle school students that aims to make math more engaging and relevant.
The first webisode in the curriculum series, “Math@Work: Math Meets Fashion,” is hosted by Project Runway’s Tim Gunn. It takes three students on a tour of legendary designer Diane von Furstenberg’s New York City studio to learn about the mathematical thinking and problem solving required in fashion design. Along the way, Tim puts their math skills to the test as they discover just how much math and fashion go hand-in-hand.
“The best way to show how fashion and math are related is to witness the process first-hand,” said Gunn. “I’m thrilled to help launch the Scholastic Math@Work web series and show students how we make math work in the fashion industry.”
The webisode is available on the Scholastic Mathematics website at www.scholastic.com/mathematics.
More Math@Work webisodes will follow. Each 25-minute webisode is paired with curriculum lessons that will facilitate mathematical discussions and problem solving.
“All kids have career ambitions. Our goal is to share how the math skills they learn in school today are connected to the lives they envision for themselves and are necessary for success in their future careers,” said Margery Mayer, president of Scholastic Education.