Geometry: A Connection to the Real World

Math students always seem to ask “Why do we need to know this?”  Sometimes it’s hard to give them concrete reasons.  This week, our topic was geometry.  I think geometry is a good way to show students why math is important.  So, when they ask that dreaded question, math teachers can be quick to respond with measuring lengths of ladders, parallel lines, lengths of soccer fields, and the construction of desks. 

Students can very easily relate their lives to math through geometry.  For example, when designing the floor plan of a house, one must also know how to create a graph that models the connecting relationships on the floor plan where vertices represent rooms and the outside and edges represent connecting doors.  Another example of how geometry can easily be connected to students’ lives is when looking at a baseball diamond.  If students want to know how far it is from home to second base, they simply use geometry after seeing the field as triangles.

For fun, introductory games to geometry, click here.  To help make connections between geometry and students’ lives, click here.  This site teaches angles through a pool game!