During early adolescence, many children develop an active interest in the world around them. Elementary curricula for 4th-6th grade students support this interest through studies of habitats and environments in science classes and world exploration and foreign cultures in social studies and English language arts courses. Teachers looking to make interdisciplinary and real-world connections that build on student curiosity about their place in the world may do so by connecting these topics to math concepts using illustrations of global comparisons.
Global infographics connect the mathematical concepts of data collection and analysis to global studies through visual representations of phenomenon across the planet, such as international democracy rankings or climate change impacts. The use of visual representations is an evidence-based instructional strategy that can make abstract mathematical concepts more concrete for struggling learners.
Stat Silk (www.statsilk.com) is one of many free tools which provides examples of global infographics on a range of topics and allows users to design their own. Students (and teachers) will explore practical uses for math while learning about the world through new perspectives.
AIR Informs Episode #6: Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities During COVID-19
Remote learning requires adjustment for all students, but students with disabilities face additional challenges during the COVID-19 quarantine. In the latest episode of AIR Informs, Allison Gandhi, managing researcher and director of AIR’s special education practice area, describes some of these obstacles and shares strategies to help students make the most of this time.
