Math and Science
Students with math and science skills are more likely to go to college. Educators who empower students from disadvantaged backgrounds with math and science skills have a profoundly positive impact upon the future potential of those students.
Multicultural adaptations to math and science instruction help to bridge the gaps between students' cultural backgrounds and the academic content. There are many ways to adapt math and science curriculum, including:
- Assess the learning style of students and adapt instruction accordingly
- Teach the math and science contributions of people from multiple cultural backgrounds, such as Arabic and Mayan contributions to numbers and astronomy
- Incorporate experiential activities
- Emphasize the real-world applications and benefits of the content material
- Create a positive and enthusiastic environment where students have positive experiences with math and science
- Understand your own biases about who is able to understand and comprehend math and science – and provide opportunities to all learners
The following links provide examples, ideas, and organizations for educators.
Effective ESL Classroom Practices
Links
African
Americans in Science
-
This
site provides useful profiles on African Americans that have
made a significant contribution to the fields of chemistry,
biology, scientific inventions, engineering, and mathematics.
4000
years of Women in Science
-
Complete
with photographs and biographies, this site indexes famous female
scientist for the past 4000 years.
Exploratorium
-
For
those in the classroom who may be more of a hands-on learner,
this site provides many great activities online as well as teachers'
references to help their students learn to appreciate science.
NASA
-
This
site allows teachers and students alike to explore the world
of space travel. Practically useful are the biographical sketches
of the NASA employees.
Multicultural
Environmental Education Actives
-
Whether
it is teaching about the ozone layer or about not littering,
this site provides many multiculturally sensitive ideas.
American
Indian Science and Engineering Society
-
This
organization helps to provide resources for American Indians
and Alaskan Natives who are interested in exploring the fields
of science and engineering.
Checklist
for Multicultural Mathematics
-
This
site includes questions that can be helpful for anyone integrating multiculturalism
into a math curriculum.
Math
Forum
-
This
site has many great links and ideas within it about math education
and multicultural approaches.
Multicultural
Math Fair
-
This
website is full of activities that integrate multiculturalism
into mathematics.