Building community through math

On the first day of the school year, students across campus were using math as a way to build community and get to know one another.
 

In eighth grade, students tried to create expressions that equaled every number from one two hundred, using only digits from today’s date.
 

It was simpler than it sounds.
 

In seventh grade, students did a different race to one hundred, counting by threes as a group.
 

It was trickier than it sounds.
 

Second graders each chose four numbers that meant something to them, and made an illustrated poster out of them.
 

Third graders teamed up on a dice game that drilled quick addition.
 

During Kindergarten choice time, one student chose to create an 11x15 grid of hearts, tallying up the total as he went as his classmates looked on.
 

Sixth grade compared notes on the summer math work…

 

…then learned about how they’ll each make one point in a dodecahedron.
 

Students will personalize their points with notes on their individual learning styles, answering prompts like "A challenge I will embrace this year is..." and "When I think I can't do something, I will..."
 

And their affirmations will float above them for the rest of the year.

 

Gordon's math instruction is supported by the Gordon Fund.