Tag: independence

  • The Declaration of Independence is Math!

    The Declaration of Independence is Math!

    Dates are math!

    Today is the official day that Americans celebrate declaring independence.

    But did you know that the The Declaration of Independence was actually accepted on July 2, 1776.

    John Adams wrote: “The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America.”

    Add two to that, Mr. Adams.

    What happened?

    When The Declaration of Independence was written out, it was dated July 4.

    And the physical pen-to-paper signing of the Declaration of Independence didn’t start until August 2.

    Even crazier, the last signature on the The Declaration of Independence wasn’t penned until after January 1777!

    Where’s the math?

    Check out the various questions you can ask about these dates:

    • What’s the difference in days between the acceptance of The Declaration of Independence and the date of the document?
    • What’s the difference in days between the acceptance and the first signature?
    • How about between the date of The Declaration of Independence and the last signature? (that’s an inequality!)

    Happy Independence Day, y’all!

    You might also like:
  • How to Free Your Students from Math Anger

    How to Free Your Students from Math Anger

    Do your students say they just wanna chuck it all with regard to math?

    Are they sick of being a prisoner to the anxiety?

    Help them declare their independence!

    A great friend of mine is a technical trainer for an oilfield services company. He teaches a class called “Oilfield Math.”

    I helped him develop this class and I had the privilege of attending the first class. At the end of the class, he offered to buy everyone a beer – so he passed out a $2 bill.

    On the back of the $2 USD bill is an image of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the US. He told everyone that they can either take the $2 and buy themselves a beer on him, or they can keep it as a token of their new found independence.

    His class teaches math for the oilfield, and for life, using a discovery process. The independence he offers is the freedom from senseless algorithms (step by step procedures that look like magic) and people who say, “All you have to do is…”

    I asked all the students in that first class sign mine. I still carry it. Although I’ve never been a prisoner like many people I’ve seen, this token reminds me that many are prisoners of the negativity.

    Hand out personal independence to your kids.

    Give each student their own $2 bill. They can write on it some freeing statements. They can write on it negative words that they never want to hear or say again. Or they can carry it blank. It’s their talisman.

    And integrate it into a history lesson too!