Totals for Tolerance
Donation protected
Totals for Tolerance
Eighth-grade teachers at Edgerton Middle School initiated an interdisciplinary unit focused on World War II and the Holocaust. Students read Holocaust-themed literature, such as Anne Frank, Number the Stars, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and The Book Thief, and composed comparison-contrast essays; students also completed historical research projects. The research led to many discoveries, including how many lives were taken by the Nazis in the Holocaust. The total number of lost lives is debated to this day; however, most historians estimate the number to be around 11,000,000. The size of this number makes it difficult for students to conceptualize just how many people were killed.
In math we wanted students to visualize the size of a million by focusing on “How big is a million?” To show this we decided to attempt to collect one million pennies. Besides collecting and counting, the math that students can do with this collection is endless: percentages, ratios, rates, graphing, slope, estimates, etc.
This activity will also encourage students to learn how to support a worthwhile cause and how to use social networking to spread the word about this effort. A facebook page will be created to show how we are progressing toward our goal, and to demonstrate the students’ projects they have created for this unit. A Go Fund Me page will be also be created to help spread the word and to aid in collection of donations. Students will create collection boxes that will be placed at local businesses for our community, so that community members may donate as well.
When we have collected and counted all of the donated pennies and to promote additional educational opportunities for more students, one hundred percent of the money will be divided between the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center in Skokie and the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee.
Thank you for your participation in this project.
Eighth-grade teachers at Edgerton Middle School initiated an interdisciplinary unit focused on World War II and the Holocaust. Students read Holocaust-themed literature, such as Anne Frank, Number the Stars, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and The Book Thief, and composed comparison-contrast essays; students also completed historical research projects. The research led to many discoveries, including how many lives were taken by the Nazis in the Holocaust. The total number of lost lives is debated to this day; however, most historians estimate the number to be around 11,000,000. The size of this number makes it difficult for students to conceptualize just how many people were killed.
In math we wanted students to visualize the size of a million by focusing on “How big is a million?” To show this we decided to attempt to collect one million pennies. Besides collecting and counting, the math that students can do with this collection is endless: percentages, ratios, rates, graphing, slope, estimates, etc.
This activity will also encourage students to learn how to support a worthwhile cause and how to use social networking to spread the word about this effort. A facebook page will be created to show how we are progressing toward our goal, and to demonstrate the students’ projects they have created for this unit. A Go Fund Me page will be also be created to help spread the word and to aid in collection of donations. Students will create collection boxes that will be placed at local businesses for our community, so that community members may donate as well.
When we have collected and counted all of the donated pennies and to promote additional educational opportunities for more students, one hundred percent of the money will be divided between the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Educational Center in Skokie and the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee.
Thank you for your participation in this project.
Organizer and beneficiary
Wanless Algebra
Organizer
Edgerton, WI
School Activity
Beneficiary
