7th Graders Put Math in Action!

Kelly Neale
7th graders raced around the classroom to see who could reach the finish line first with the correct amount of money. All this was part of their problem-solving workshop in math to test their mastery of percent operations. Students were required to spend some money, earn some money, and come home with the correct amount, right down to the penny. They teamed up to "order food" at Tony's Mexican Grill, "buy holiday gifts" from LL Bean, "withdraw savings" from the bank, and "sell" video games, all involving calculating percentages of taxes, tips, discounts, interest rates, and commissions along the way. A competitive spirit filled the room in the race to the finish, and it was fun to hear the ensuing math debates as one student corrected his teammate saying, "You just tipped $19 on a $23 meal!" or "You can't take the discount on the tax." Math really is all around us in everyday life, as 7th grade mathematicians discovered!
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Located in Los Angeles, CA, Berkeley Hall School is a private, coeducational school for students in preschool through grade 8. Rigorous academics in a supportive atmosphere and grounded character development allow students to become fearless scholars and conscientious citizens - gain a love of learning, leadership with social responsibility, creativity with moral integrity, and self-esteem with compassion for others and the environment.