“When are we ever going to use this in real life?” Many math teachers are sick and tired of hearing that phrase. Mostly, the answers to that question have something to do with Technology and Engineering. Not this time. The Integrated III Math curriculum created a project just to prove that math is used in real life.

During the second trimester of Integrated III, kids learned how math is used in Music. The project included a packet of mathematical equations that taught each student how musical instruments are made. Once the packet was completed, the student was required to make an instrument; either a panpipe, made from straws and masking tape, or a guitar, made out of wood and string. The packet included a “how to” for the assembly of each instrument, but the student had to do the equations correctly for the pitches to be right.

After all the hard work was completed, the students performed a song in front of the class, and gave a presentation of how music is connected to math. This part required a small amount of research because you needed to find how math is associated with other kinds of music, not just panpipes and guitars. Speaking from an “Integrated III math project alumni”, this project was quite a learning experience, and may I never have to ask another math teacher, “When will I ever use this in real life?” again.