People,+Not+Numbers


 * __Math Assignment #1 - People, Not Numbers__**


 * Grade Levels**: Middle and high school, grades 7-12


 * Concentration Area**: Math


 * Time required**: One 90 min. project block


 * Materials needed:** Projector, Laptop, Lined Paper, Magnets, tape, or push-pins to affix lists to magnetized chalkboards, walls, or bulletin boards, clock, stop-watch, or timer, calculator


 * Anticipatory Set**

1. Ask students how many pupils are in the classroom when there are no absences. Record the number on the chalkboard. If the number is in dispute, write the range for the largest and smallest number. Then, ask students how many pupils are in the entire school when there are no absences and record the number range. Finally, ask students how many pupils are in the entire school system in their district and record the number range.

2. Ask students to hypothesize why the certainty over the numbers decreases as the quantity of pupils queried increases. Ask students why it matters that the school or school system treats them as individuals rather than numbers.

3. Explain that students face a similar problem with statistics in history. When historians turn people into numbers, students are responsible for making the effort to turn the numbers back into people again.

4. Ask students to verbally respond to the following question: **How do you feel about the fact that many people who make decisions that affect you don’t even know you exist?** · Record student responses on a Power Point slide with an appropriate title.


 * __Part 1__**


 * Procedures**

1. Ask students if they have ever thought about what the number "12 million" represents and if they have ever seen "12 million" of anything.

2. Direct students to take out a sheet of paper and pencil. Explain that they will have five minutes to list the names of as many friends, family members, schoolmates, and acquaintances in the community (neighbors, teammates, associates in church or scouting, merchants or service providers, etc.) as they can. Reassure students that they do not have to spell the names perfectly, but they should list names as completely and correctly as possible. Once the students are ready, set the clock and tell them to begin writing. At your call or at the sound of the timer, all students should put down their pencils.

3. Ask students to review their lists to make certain there are no repetitions. Have them write the total number of names on the top of their sheets. Collect the sheets and compute the grand total of names listed by the class.

4. Divide the number "12 million" by the class total. Explain to students that this would be the number of days they would have to write the same number of names—but entirely new names—each and every day, to record 12 million names. Expressed mathematically, the formula is: 12,000,000 ÷ x = y (number of days.) Divide number of days (y) by:

a. 180 (or the state-mandated number of attendance days for your school district) to calculate how many school years would be necessary to complete the list.

b. 365 to calculate how many solar years would be necessary to complete the list.

Ask students to briefly reflect on how they would feel if one of the loved ones on their list died. Have them keep this feeling in mind while watching the video for part 2.


 * __Part 2__**


 * Procedures**

1. Have students watch “Orphans of Nkandla” and “Click”, available at [|www.MakePovertyHistory.org/video]

2. Using one of the statistics from the video, calculate with the class how many people die per minute, per hour, per day, and per year. Then use the number of years it would take the class to write 12 million names and find the total number of deaths in that many years. Record all of this information in the excel document.

3. Copy the excel document into a new Power Point slide.

4. Have students write a reflective journal:

· "Whenever we turn people into numbers and back again, we invariably lose something, and what we lose is life." · As we study Social Justice issues using statistics, what can you do to help yourself remember that these were people rather than numbers?

5. Have students share their reflections. Record these reflections on a third power Point Slide. Play the 3 page Power Point presentation as a summary of the lesson.


 * __Attribution__**


 * Part 1 of this lesson was adapted from a lesson titled “People, Not Numbers Lesson Plan: Bringing 12 Million into Personal Terms” from http://www.inmotionaame.org/ The full URL is: http://www.inmotionaame.org/education/lesson.cfm;jsessionid=f8302765391187824359661?migration=&id=1_001LP&bhcp=1