Making Math Tangible With a Dream House Project
When students work together to calculate construction costs and negotiate design choices, they develop skills in math and collaboration—all while letting their imaginations run wild.
Whiting Lane Elementary School, in West Hartford, CT, has been recognized for its outstanding work in student growth. Its students come from diverse backgrounds—socio-economically, culturally, and educationally. One of the ways its educators support all students in pursuing academic rigor is by presenting them with highly engaging projects that require collaboration, problem-solving, and attention to detail. In Kim Hannan’s third-grade math class, small groups of students work together to design a dream house, where they wrestle with square footage, unit costs, budget constraints, and negotiation skills—and have a great time doing it.