Seventh-grade teacher uses popular TV show to make math come alive

Published: 2004-08-20

MIAMI (CNS) -- Banking on the popularity of the remodeling show, "Trading Spaces," Marcia Escandar came up with a way to teach math to seventh-graders last year that was so successful she intends to do it again this year. The project involves giving students a month to remodel a room in their house, and $500 to spend. Virtual dollars, that is. But everything else the Sts. Peter and Paul students had to do for their "Decorating Spaces" project was real enough. They had to draw a blueprint of the room showing the dimensions of everything in it, from closets to windows, walls and doors. They had to find the perimeter, area and surface area of the room. They had to calculate how many gallons of paint or rolls of wallpaper they would need; how many square feet of carpeting or tile they should buy; how much fabric for curtains; even the size and type of furniture they wanted to purchase. They also had to write checks for their virtual purchases and find the items they wanted in stores like Home Depot, City Furniture and Bed, Bath and Beyond. And they had to do it all without going over budget; at least one penny had to remain in their bank accounts when it was all over. If that sounds more like math than interior design, that's the whole idea. "The more I thought of it, I realized it was all math-oriented," said Escandar, who describes herself as "an extraordinary fan" of The Learning Channel network's "Trading Spaces."

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