This document discusses the importance of incorporating multicultural elements into mathematics education. It provides several strategies for making math more culturally relevant for students, including using culturally diverse manipulatives, games, center activities, and word problems that draw on students' varied backgrounds. Specific examples are given, such as using an abacus, playing the North African game Hyena Chase, and doing activities related to Egyptian pyramids and the metric system. The document emphasizes communicating high expectations, relevant content, and validating students' identities in order to promote critical thinking and boost confidence for all learners.

1. Collaborative Project:
Multicultural
Mathematics
Stephany Lawhon
Amanda Ballard

2. Why is it important to integrate
multicultural into mathematics?
 Gives an education in awareness of students’
background(s).
 Promotes critical thinking.
 Includes all students and boosts the confidence levels of
students.

3. Understanding Your Learners
Provide Culturally Relevant Math Instruction
 Communicate high expectations
 Relevant content
 Value children’s identities
 Model shared power

4. Reaching Your Learners
 Focus on Academic Vocabulary
 Don’t give up on it, even if they don’t understand!
 Use Native Language
 Explicitly Teach Vocabulary

5. Breaking the Stereotype
 Can women be good a math?
 It is crucial to encourage girls to love and enjoy math.
 There are many women famous for their mathematical skills.

6. Where to Incorporate Diversity?
 Word Problems
 Utilize experiences, and backgrounds of students
 Manipulatives
 Abacus
 Origami
Turn and Talk: What are some other ways to incorporate
cultural diversity into manipulatives?

7. Where to Incorporate Diversity?
 Games
 Center Activities
 Dramatic Play
 Recipes (Measurement)
 Grocery Store (money)

8. Math Centers
 An easy way to incorporate cultural diversity into centers
is through centers.
 Centers are an important part of engaging children in
learning in an interactive, individualized way.
 Tailor these to the cultural needs of your students- make
connections!

9. Hyena Chase
 North African board game.
 Many games around the world are similar to what we
play in the US.
 Roll die and move marker to the center of the board.

10. Pyramid Activity
 Pyramids are found in many cultures around the world.
 Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza is the grandest pyramid of
all.
 It is important to integrate diversity into the curriculum for
children to understand and get a feel for different
cultures and architecture around the world.
 Content area: Mathematical Process

11. M&M Metric Measurement
 Make all students comfortable with the Metric units.
 Most people around the world do not use out Customary units.
 Connect the Metric system to everyday lives of students.
 Students measure candies, and compare the measurement
units.
 Metric online games

12. Number Matching
 Why do you think it is important for children to recognize
and understand that there are different ways to write
numbers?
 Math is not always the universal language
 Numerals are sometimes written differently
 Think about how you will respond when children use different
strategies/methods
 Be invested and interested!
 Have them elaborate, and show what they did

13. Number Matching
 Match the 3 different types of numbers 1-10
 Roman Numerals
 American Numbers
 Chinese Numerals

14. References
 Irons, C. & Burnett, J. (1993). Mathematics From Many Cultures:
Brings the whole world into your classroom. Mimosa Publications,
San Francisco, CA: Author.
 Littlefield, C. A. (2001). Williamson's Kids Can!: Real-world math
for hands-on fun! Williamson Publishing, Charlotte, VT: Author.
 Van de Walle, John A., Lovin LouAnn H., Karp, Karen S., and Bay-
Williams, Jennifer. (2014). Teaching Student-Centered
Mathematics: Developmentally Appropriate Instruction for
Grades Pre-K -2 (Volume I). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
 "1st Grade Math." First Grade Math. Adapted Mind, 2012. Web.
03 Apr. 2014. <http://www.adaptedmind.com/gradelist.php>.