This gift will allow me to purchase class sets of the book Flatland, which was written by mathematician and educator Edwin Abbott in 1884. This classic novella is a wonderful combination of mathematics (specifically geometry and dimensions), history, and English writing from the 19th century. The novella was written as a satire to expose the political structure of Victorian England, but addresses mathematical concepts in an original way. We will read the book in my Honors Math 2 classes, discussing not only the geometry involved, but also the historical context and how it relates to today's social issues. It will be an excellent way to cross curricular boundaries and discuss both history and English literature in math class. Mathematics often gets a reputation of being abstract and disconnected from history and culture. This would be a great way for my students to see that it is in fact the opposite: mathematics can be used to describe our world in ways never previously imagined.
About my class
This gift will allow me to purchase class sets of the book Flatland, which was written by mathematician and educator Edwin Abbott in 1884. This classic novella is a wonderful combination of mathematics (specifically geometry and dimensions), history, and English writing from the 19th century. The novella was written as a satire to expose the political structure of Victorian England, but addresses mathematical concepts in an original way. We will read the book in my Honors Math 2 classes, discussing not only the geometry involved, but also the historical context and how it relates to today's social issues. It will be an excellent way to cross curricular boundaries and discuss both history and English literature in math class. Mathematics often gets a reputation of being abstract and disconnected from history and culture. This would be a great way for my students to see that it is in fact the opposite: mathematics can be used to describe our world in ways never previously imagined.