ALASKA ACADEMY: MATHEMATICS HELPS CHILDREN SEE FURTHER AND BROADER

The goal is for the 5A3 class to answer the question: What is a map scale? and to know how to apply the map scale to solve related problems. Teacher Nguyễn Thị Thu has designed a math lesson on map scale filled with surprises and excitement.

Through the game “Perspective Prism,” the Alaskids gain a clearer view of the S-shaped land on the world map. In our beloved Vietnam, there is Hanoi – the capital where they live. In the heart of Hanoi, in Yên Hòa Ward, Cầu Giấy District, is their school: Alaska International Primary School. Everything is scaled down according to a specific ratio – also known as the map scale.

By cleverly integrating knowledge from Mathematics, Art, and Geography, Teacher Nguyễn Thị Thu’s lesson on map scale is enthusiastically received by the Alaskids. The application exercise she provided was quickly solved by the Alaskids with surprise: It turns out that just by using the scale indicated on the design drawing of Alaska International Primary School, one can completely determine the length and width of classrooms/playgrounds in the school.

Even more remarkably, using knowledge about map scale – along with cardboard, wooden sticks, straws, and glue – the Alaskids were able to design a cute little table based on a scaled-down model. This shows that the map scale is not just numbers – it is also numbers that tell a story and can reveal many wonderful things about places the children may never reach.