Middle School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice

Basil M. Conway - Columbus State University, Columbus, GA
Lateefah Id-Deen - Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Mary Candace Raygoza - Saint Mary's College of California, USA
Amanda Ruiz - University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
John W Staley - Baltimore County Public Schools, Maryland
Eva Thanheiser - Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
Middle School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice
July 2022 | 392 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781071881620
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ISBN: 9781071845523
Available from January 0001

Description

"If you teach middle school math and have wanted to promote social justice, but haven’t been sure how to get started, you need to check out this book. It incorporates lessons you can use immediately as well as how to foster the kind of classroom community where students will thrive. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to have alongside you to support you throughout your journey."

Robert Kaplinsky
Author and Consultant
Long Beach, CA

Empower young adolescents to be the change—join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement!

Students of all ages and intersecting identities—through media and their lived experiences— bear witness to and experience social injustices and movements around the world for greater justice. However, when people think of social justice, mathematics rarely comes to mind. With a user-friendly design, this book brings middle school mathematics content to life by connecting it to issues students see or experience.

Developed for use by Grades 6-8 educators, the contributed model lessons in this book walk teachers through the process of applying critical frameworks to instruction, using standards-based mathematics to explore, understand, and respond to social injustices. Learn to plan daily instruction that engages young adolescents in mathematics explorations through age-appropriate, culturally relevant topics such as health and economic inequality, human and civil rights, environmental justice, and accessibility. Features include:

  • Content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issues
  • Connection to Learning for Justice’s social justice standards
  • Downloadable teacher materials and lesson resources
  • Guidance for lessons driven by young adolescents’ unique passions and challenges
  • Connections between research and practice

Written for teachers committed to developing equitable and empowering practices through the lens of mathematics content and practice standards as well as social justice standards, this book will help connect content to young adolescents’ daily lives, strengthen their mathematical understanding, and expose them to issues that will support them in becoming active agents of change and responsible leaders.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 1: What Is Social Justice and Why Does It Matter in Teaching Mathematics?

Chapter 1: What Is Social Justice and Why Does It Matter in Teaching Mathematics?

Chapter 2: Building and Sustaining a Beloved Community in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom

Chapter 2: Building and Sustaining a Beloved Community in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom

Chapter 3: Fostering a Classroom to Teach Mathematics for Social Justice

Chapter 3: Fostering a Classroom to Teach Mathematics for Social Justice

Chapter 4: Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 4: Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 5: Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 5: Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 6: The Number System

Chapter 6: The Number System

Lesson 6.1 Food Apartheid: Graphing and Understanding Access to Healthy Food

Lesson 6.1 Food Apartheid: Graphing and Understanding Access to Healthy Food

Lesson 6.2 Cor(o)ner Stores and Food Apartheid

Lesson 6.2 Cor(o)ner Stores and Food Apartheid

Lesson 6.3 Billionaire Power

Lesson 6.3 Billionaire Power

Lesson 6.4 Middle School Math to Explore People Represented in Our World and Community

Lesson 6.4 Middle School Math to Explore People Represented in Our World and Community

Chapter 7: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

Chapter 7: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

Lesson 7.1 Hey Google, Who's a Mathematician

Lesson 7.1 Hey Google, Who's a Mathematician

Lesson 7.2 The True Cost of that $29 T-shirt in the Store Window

Lesson 7.2 The True Cost of that $29 T-shirt in the Store Window

Lesson 7.3 Majority and Power

Lesson 7.3 Majority and Power

Lesson 7.4 Smoking and Vaping: Targeting of Marginalized Communities by the Tobacco Industry

Lesson 7.4 Smoking and Vaping: Targeting of Marginalized Communities by the Tobacco Industry

Lesson 7.5 Health Race and Ratios

Lesson 7.5 Health Race and Ratios

Lesson 7.6 Health Inequalities: COVID and Other Health Conditions

Lesson 7.6 Health Inequalities: COVID and Other Health Conditions

Chapter 8: Algebra: Expressions, Equations, and Functions

Chapter 8: Algebra: Expressions, Equations, and Functions

Lesson 8.1 Gerrymandering of Voting Districts

Lesson 8.1 Gerrymandering of Voting Districts

Lesson 8.2 National Team Pay Investigation

Lesson 8.2 National Team Pay Investigation

Lesson 8.3 The Black Vote in America: Impact of the 1965 Voting Rights Act

Lesson 8.3 The Black Vote in America: Impact of the 1965 Voting Rights Act

Chapter 9: Statistics and Probability

Chapter 9: Statistics and Probability

Lesson 9.1 Playing with Data

Lesson 9.1 Playing with Data

Lesson 9.2 The Mathematics of Toxic Air

Lesson 9.2 The Mathematics of Toxic Air

Lesson 9.3 Gender Pay Gap

Lesson 9.3 Gender Pay Gap

Lesson 9.4 How Many Meals Can Minimum Wage Buy

Lesson 9.4 How Many Meals Can Minimum Wage Buy

Chapter 10: Geometry

Chapter 10: Geometry

Lesson 10.1 Map Projections

Lesson 10.1 Map Projections

Lesson 10.2 3D Modeling for Water

Lesson 10.2 3D Modeling for Water

Lesson 10.3 Water is Life

Lesson 10.3 Water is Life

Lesson 10.4 Accessible Playground

Lesson 10.4 Accessible Playground

Lesson 10.5 Investigating Areas to Determine Fairness

Lesson 10.5 Investigating Areas to Determine Fairness

Chapter 11: Advice From the Field

Chapter 11: Advice From the Field

Chapter 12: Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for Your Own Classroom

Chapter 12: Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for Your Own Classroom

Appendix A: Additional Resources

Appendix A: Additional Resources

Appendix B: Lesson Resources

Appendix B: Lesson Resources

Appendix C: Essential Middle Grades Concepts

Appendix C: Essential Middle Grades Concepts

Appendix D: Social Justice Topics, Standards, and Grade Level Outcomes

Appendix D: Social Justice Topics, Standards, and Grade Level Outcomes

Appendix E: Lessons by Essential Middle Grades Concepts, Social Justice Grades 6–8 Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix E: Lessons by Essential Middle Grades Concepts, Social Justice Grades 6–8 Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix F: Social Justice Mathematics Lesson Planner

Appendix F: Social Justice Mathematics Lesson Planner

References

References

Description

"If you teach middle school math and have wanted to promote social justice, but haven’t been sure how to get started, you need to check out this book. It incorporates lessons you can use immediately as well as how to foster the kind of classroom community where students will thrive. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to have alongside you to support you throughout your journey."

Robert Kaplinsky
Author and Consultant
Long Beach, CA

Empower young adolescents to be the change—join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement!

Students of all ages and intersecting identities—through media and their lived experiences— bear witness to and experience social injustices and movements around the world for greater justice. However, when people think of social justice, mathematics rarely comes to mind. With a user-friendly design, this book brings middle school mathematics content to life by connecting it to issues students see or experience.

Developed for use by Grades 6-8 educators, the contributed model lessons in this book walk teachers through the process of applying critical frameworks to instruction, using standards-based mathematics to explore, understand, and respond to social injustices. Learn to plan daily instruction that engages young adolescents in mathematics explorations through age-appropriate, culturally relevant topics such as health and economic inequality, human and civil rights, environmental justice, and accessibility. Features include:

  • Content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issues
  • Connection to Learning for Justice’s social justice standards
  • Downloadable teacher materials and lesson resources
  • Guidance for lessons driven by young adolescents’ unique passions and challenges
  • Connections between research and practice

Written for teachers committed to developing equitable and empowering practices through the lens of mathematics content and practice standards as well as social justice standards, this book will help connect content to young adolescents’ daily lives, strengthen their mathematical understanding, and expose them to issues that will support them in becoming active agents of change and responsible leaders.

Contents

Preface

Preface

Introduction

Introduction

Chapter 1: What Is Social Justice and Why Does It Matter in Teaching Mathematics?

Chapter 1: What Is Social Justice and Why Does It Matter in Teaching Mathematics?

Chapter 2: Building and Sustaining a Beloved Community in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom

Chapter 2: Building and Sustaining a Beloved Community in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom

Chapter 3: Fostering a Classroom to Teach Mathematics for Social Justice

Chapter 3: Fostering a Classroom to Teach Mathematics for Social Justice

Chapter 4: Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 4: Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 5: Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 5: Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson

Chapter 6: The Number System

Chapter 6: The Number System

Lesson 6.1 Food Apartheid: Graphing and Understanding Access to Healthy Food

Lesson 6.1 Food Apartheid: Graphing and Understanding Access to Healthy Food

Lesson 6.2 Cor(o)ner Stores and Food Apartheid

Lesson 6.2 Cor(o)ner Stores and Food Apartheid

Lesson 6.3 Billionaire Power

Lesson 6.3 Billionaire Power

Lesson 6.4 Middle School Math to Explore People Represented in Our World and Community

Lesson 6.4 Middle School Math to Explore People Represented in Our World and Community

Chapter 7: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

Chapter 7: Ratios and Proportional Relationships

Lesson 7.1 Hey Google, Who's a Mathematician

Lesson 7.1 Hey Google, Who's a Mathematician

Lesson 7.2 The True Cost of that $29 T-shirt in the Store Window

Lesson 7.2 The True Cost of that $29 T-shirt in the Store Window

Lesson 7.3 Majority and Power

Lesson 7.3 Majority and Power

Lesson 7.4 Smoking and Vaping: Targeting of Marginalized Communities by the Tobacco Industry

Lesson 7.4 Smoking and Vaping: Targeting of Marginalized Communities by the Tobacco Industry

Lesson 7.5 Health Race and Ratios

Lesson 7.5 Health Race and Ratios

Lesson 7.6 Health Inequalities: COVID and Other Health Conditions

Lesson 7.6 Health Inequalities: COVID and Other Health Conditions

Chapter 8: Algebra: Expressions, Equations, and Functions

Chapter 8: Algebra: Expressions, Equations, and Functions

Lesson 8.1 Gerrymandering of Voting Districts

Lesson 8.1 Gerrymandering of Voting Districts

Lesson 8.2 National Team Pay Investigation

Lesson 8.2 National Team Pay Investigation

Lesson 8.3 The Black Vote in America: Impact of the 1965 Voting Rights Act

Lesson 8.3 The Black Vote in America: Impact of the 1965 Voting Rights Act

Chapter 9: Statistics and Probability

Chapter 9: Statistics and Probability

Lesson 9.1 Playing with Data

Lesson 9.1 Playing with Data

Lesson 9.2 The Mathematics of Toxic Air

Lesson 9.2 The Mathematics of Toxic Air

Lesson 9.3 Gender Pay Gap

Lesson 9.3 Gender Pay Gap

Lesson 9.4 How Many Meals Can Minimum Wage Buy

Lesson 9.4 How Many Meals Can Minimum Wage Buy

Chapter 10: Geometry

Chapter 10: Geometry

Lesson 10.1 Map Projections

Lesson 10.1 Map Projections

Lesson 10.2 3D Modeling for Water

Lesson 10.2 3D Modeling for Water

Lesson 10.3 Water is Life

Lesson 10.3 Water is Life

Lesson 10.4 Accessible Playground

Lesson 10.4 Accessible Playground

Lesson 10.5 Investigating Areas to Determine Fairness

Lesson 10.5 Investigating Areas to Determine Fairness

Chapter 11: Advice From the Field

Chapter 11: Advice From the Field

Chapter 12: Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for Your Own Classroom

Chapter 12: Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for Your Own Classroom

Appendix A: Additional Resources

Appendix A: Additional Resources

Appendix B: Lesson Resources

Appendix B: Lesson Resources

Appendix C: Essential Middle Grades Concepts

Appendix C: Essential Middle Grades Concepts

Appendix D: Social Justice Topics, Standards, and Grade Level Outcomes

Appendix D: Social Justice Topics, Standards, and Grade Level Outcomes

Appendix E: Lessons by Essential Middle Grades Concepts, Social Justice Grades 6–8 Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix E: Lessons by Essential Middle Grades Concepts, Social Justice Grades 6–8 Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics

Appendix F: Social Justice Mathematics Lesson Planner

Appendix F: Social Justice Mathematics Lesson Planner

References

References

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Middle School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice


July 2022 | 392 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781071845523 $40.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781071881620 $37.00

"If you teach middle school math and have wanted to promote social justice, but haven’t been sure how to get started, you need to check out this book. It incorporates lessons you can use immediately as well as how to foster the kind of classroom community where students will thrive. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to have alongside you to support you throughout your journey."

Robert Kaplinsky
Author and Consultant
Long Beach, CA

Empower young adolescents to be the change—join the teaching mathematics for social justice movement!

Students of all ages and intersecting identities—through media and their lived experiences— bear witness to and experience social injustices and movements around the world for greater justice. However, when people think of social justice, mathematics rarely comes to mind. With a user-friendly design, this book brings middle school mathematics content to life by connecting it to issues students see or experience.

Developed for use by Grades 6-8 educators, the contributed model lessons in this book walk teachers through the process of applying critical frameworks to instruction, using standards-based mathematics to explore, understand, and respond to social injustices. Learn to plan daily instruction that engages young adolescents in mathematics explorations through age-appropriate, culturally relevant topics such as health and economic inequality, human and civil rights, environmental justice, and accessibility. Features include:

  • Content cross-referenced by mathematical concept and social issues
  • Connection to Learning for Justice’s social justice standards
  • Downloadable teacher materials and lesson resources
  • Guidance for lessons driven by young adolescents’ unique passions and challenges
  • Connections between research and practice

Written for teachers committed to developing equitable and empowering practices through the lens of mathematics content and practice standards as well as social justice standards, this book will help connect content to young adolescents’ daily lives, strengthen their mathematical understanding, and expose them to issues that will support them in becoming active agents of change and responsible leaders.


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Introduction
  • Chapter 1: What Is Social Justice and Why Does It Matter in Teaching Mathematics?
  • Chapter 2: Building and Sustaining a Beloved Community in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom
  • Chapter 3: Fostering a Classroom to Teach Mathematics for Social Justice
  • Chapter 4: Instructional Tools for the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson
  • Chapter 5: Teaching the Social Justice Mathematics Lesson
  • Chapter 6: The Number System
  • Lesson 6.1 Food Apartheid: Graphing and Understanding Access to Healthy Food
  • Lesson 6.2 Cor(o)ner Stores and Food Apartheid
  • Lesson 6.3 Billionaire Power
  • Lesson 6.4 Middle School Math to Explore People Represented in Our World and Community
  • Chapter 7: Ratios and Proportional Relationships
  • Lesson 7.1 Hey Google, Who's a Mathematician
  • Lesson 7.2 The True Cost of that $29 T-shirt in the Store Window
  • Lesson 7.3 Majority and Power
  • Lesson 7.4 Smoking and Vaping: Targeting of Marginalized Communities by the Tobacco Industry
  • Lesson 7.5 Health Race and Ratios
  • Lesson 7.6 Health Inequalities: COVID and Other Health Conditions
  • Chapter 8: Algebra: Expressions, Equations, and Functions
  • Lesson 8.1 Gerrymandering of Voting Districts
  • Lesson 8.2 National Team Pay Investigation
  • Lesson 8.3 The Black Vote in America: Impact of the 1965 Voting Rights Act
  • Chapter 9: Statistics and Probability
  • Lesson 9.1 Playing with Data
  • Lesson 9.2 The Mathematics of Toxic Air
  • Lesson 9.3 Gender Pay Gap
  • Lesson 9.4 How Many Meals Can Minimum Wage Buy
  • Chapter 10: Geometry
  • Lesson 10.1 Map Projections
  • Lesson 10.2 3D Modeling for Water
  • Lesson 10.3 Water is Life
  • Lesson 10.4 Accessible Playground
  • Lesson 10.5 Investigating Areas to Determine Fairness
  • Chapter 11: Advice From the Field
  • Chapter 12: Creating Social Justice Mathematics Lessons for Your Own Classroom
  • Appendix A: Additional Resources
  • Appendix B: Lesson Resources
  • Appendix C: Essential Middle Grades Concepts
  • Appendix D: Social Justice Topics, Standards, and Grade Level Outcomes
  • Appendix E: Lessons by Essential Middle Grades Concepts, Social Justice Grades 6–8 Outcomes, and Social Justice Topics
  • Appendix F: Social Justice Mathematics Lesson Planner
  • References

Recent Product Reviews:

The diversity of authors. The focus on social justice. The attention towards class ecology. The framework around math equity and not math deficit.
Mr Andre ChenFeng, Teacher Education, Claremont Graduate University
A wonderful collection of lessons, submitted by teachers, to help students of all ages see topics they care about, and use mathematics as a tool for progress in the world.
Jo Boaler, Stanford University
Conway et al. have done it again! In this volume, not only do the authors share rich, standards- based, grade-level appropriate mathematical tasks with social justice contexts, they also share specific strategies and tools to engage the middle school mathematics student.
Kyndall Brown, California Mathematics Project
Middle School Mathematics Lessons to Explore, Understand, and Respond to Social Injustice is a must-have resource for any middle school educator seeking to incorporate teaching mathematics for social justice in their educational environment. This book provides practical lessons that will truly enhance a child’s educational experience through engaging them in relevant applications of mathematics.
Kristopher J. Childs
If you teach middle school mathematics and have wanted to promote social justice but haven’t been sure how to get started, you need to check out this book. It incorporates lessons you can use immediately as well as how to foster the kind of classroom community where students will thrive. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to have alongside you to support you throughout your journey.
Robert Kaplinsky

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