Literature-Based Activities for Integrating Mathematics with Other Content Areas, Grades 6-8

This book provides easy-to-implement, literature-based activities that connect standards-based grades 6-8 mathematics lessons with concepts derived from science, social studies, and the arts standards. 

• Presents a matrix of activities listing the literature used for each activity and the Mathematics concepts covered as well as concepts covered for the other content areas.
• Includes overviews of the children’s literature accompany each activity.
• Integrates National Content Standards (NCTM, NSES, NCSS, NAEA) within each activity that support standards-based instruction.
• Guides teachers to implement each activity and assess students’ learning successfully with step-by-step descriptions .
• Features reproducible worksheets for activities that require recording or written response, saving teachers time when incorporating an activity into lessons.
• Contains assessment tools and rubrics in the Appendix.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Helpful Hints

Regarding Assessment

 

Chapter One: Literature-Based Mathematics and Science Activities

The Mathematics-Science Connection

Matrix of Mathematics and Science Activities

Activities featuring Number and Operations

Ï The Planet of Mars (a poem in Where the Sidewalk Ends), An Extraterrestrial Alien (a poem in A Pizza the Size of the Sun), and Universe (Eyewitness Books Series)

Ï Biggest, Strongest, Fastest

Activities featuring Algebra

Ï A Game of Functions, Temperature, and How Little and How Much: A Book about Scales

Ï Starry Messenger and Galileo Galilei (Scientists Who Made History Series)

Activities featuring Geometry

Ï The Man Who Walked between the Towers, Great Buildings (Discoveries Series), and Building Big

Activities featuring Measurement

Ï A Pizza the Size of the Sun (a poem in A Pizza the Size of the Sun) and Eclipse: Darkness in Daytime

Ï More Parts and Human Body (DK Guide Series)

Activities featuring Data Analysis and Probability 

Ï Almost Gone: The World’s Rarest Animals

Ï Marie Curie

Activities featuring Connections

Ï I Made Something Strange with My Chemistry Set (a poem in A Pizza the Size of the Sun), So You Want to Be an Inventor?, and Perfect Inventions = Perfect World

 

Chapter Two: Literature-Based Mathematics and Social Studies Activities

The Mathematics-Social Studies Connection

Matrix of Mathematics and Social Studies Activities

Activities featuring Number and Operations

Ï Money (Eyewitness Books Series)

Activities featuring Algebra

Ï One Grain of Rice

Ï What’s Your Angle, Pythagoras?

Activities featuring Geometry

Ï Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

Ï Webster's International Atlas and Firefly Guide to Flags of the World

Activities featuring Measurement

Ï The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and Pyramid (DK Experience Series)

Ï A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme and Maps & Mapping

Activities featuring Data Analysis and Probability 

Ï First Pets: Presidential Best Friends and Presidents (Eyewitness Books Series)

Ï If the World Were a Village

Activities featuring Connections

Ï The Sky’s the Limit: Stories of Discovery by Women and Girls, Mathematicians Are People, Too, and Five Brilliant Scientists (Great Black Heroes Series)

 

Chapter Three: Chapter Three: Literature-Based Mathematics and Visual Arts Activities

The Mathematics-Visual Arts Connection

Matrix of Mathematics and Visual Arts Activities

Activities featuring Number and Operations

Ï Roy Lichtenstein: The Artist at Work and Roy Lichtenstein (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists Series)

Ï Georgia’s Bones, Georgia O’Keeffe (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists Series), and Georgia O'Keeffe: One Hundred Flowers

Activities featuring Algebra

Ï Alexander Calder (The Life and Work of…Series) and Calder (Great Modern Masters Series)

Activities featuring Geometry

Ï Picasso (Famous Artists Series) and Pablo Picasso: Breaking All the Rules (Smart about Art Series)

Ï Tessellations: The History and Making of Symmetrical Designs and M.C. Escher: The Graphic Work

Activities featuring Measurement

Ï Mondrian (Great Modern Masters Series)

Ï Cezanne (Famous Artists Series) and Paul Cezanne: A Painters’ Journey

Activities featuring Data Analysis and Probability 

Ï Miro: Earth and Sky (Art for Children Series) and Joan Miro (Famous Artists Series)

Ï Arp and Looking at Dada

Activities featuring Problem Solving

Ï Paul Klee (The Life and Work of…Series) and Paul Klee (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists Series)

 

Assessment Resources References

Children’s Literature References

Instructional Resources References

Research References

Appendix — Assessment Tools and Rubrics

Sample Pages

Click Here to view sample activities, and to learn more about the book and author Robin Ward.