Module VIII: Equity in Classroom

ICL 7502/4007 Fall 2021

Equity Project

The Equity Project is intended to allow you to apply some of the ideas we have explored through the

creation of a lesson that could be taught in your classroom. There are two parts to the Equity Project: (1)

a lesson plan; and (2) a reflection.

Lesson Plan

Design a lesson that connects mathematics content to issues of social justice or community concerns in

your school context. (See Gutstein (2016) reading and the resource “SJMathGuide” for ideas of what

this might look like).

Your lesson plan must meet the following criteria:

1. It must target a well-defined mathematical concept – what Gutstein refers to as classical

knowledge.

2. It must also integrate at least one of the other 3Cs: community knowledge OR critical

knowledge. (I realize that Gutstein advocates for curriculum and instruction that includes all

three Cs. However, for the purpose of this assignment, the connections can involve either

community knowledge or critical knowledge).

3. There is not a required format for the lesson plan. However, it should include the following:

• Learning objectives • Lesson procedures (including what you and the students will be doing) • Learning tasks/activities

• Questions that you will ask the students - You must include the questions that you would ask to ensure that students CONNECT classical mathematical knowledge with community or critical knowledge.

• Instructional resources and materials used

Reflection In addition to the Lesson Plan itself, you should include responses to the following questions:

1. How will the lesson plan help students build connections among classical, community, and/or cultural

knowledge? 2. How does the lesson support equity and/or social justice? 3. As you think about incorporating lesson such as this one into your mathematics instruction, what is

one “take-away” from this assignment? In other words, what have you learned from creating this lesson plan?

NOTE: You can use an existing lesson plan as a foundation for your lesson. However, you need to be sure

that your lesson plan is connected to the students and community in which you teach (or will teach).

For example, the SJMathGuide includes a description of an activity involving “The Toxic Circle.” The

mathematics is transferrable (many communities have restrictions regarding how close certain

businesses or facilities can be to schools). But the setting of this particular scenario is a Chicago

neighborhood. You could use a similar premise, but you would need to tailor it to a situation in your

school’s community.