Give them the lesson about percentages. “If the stock market yesterday morning was at 11000 points and falls 30% by close yesterday. only to rise by 30% today. Will the wealthy class claim that it closed at the same level before yesterday morning or acknowledge they skimmed the top while playing it off as it bounced completely back?”
Even if you don’t get this blatant, percentages are a nice topic to teach about how ads and statistics can easily lie. Also drives home why knowing maths is important.
It’s the only choice.
My conversational German course just voted to hold a debate about shopping. I feel a little bad, but I’m going to take the anticommercialism even higher.
Edit: or should I do boycotts? I would love ideas, I’m brand new at this. I suspect at least one of the students is right wing, but I also think it might just be what he grew up with and not something he’s necessarily considered and committed to. I’d like to not push him away if possible, while still giving him some information and perspective that might make him think.
Awesome! I’ve taught chemistry this way!
Solubility basics: acidic substances dissolve better at higher pH and vice versa. Example: tea pigmentation, slightly acidic. Compare: normal tea steeping, steeping tea in water with lemon (hint: add lemon AFTER steeping next time!), steeping tea in water with a hint of cheap baking soda added (notice slight taste modification, does that feel familiar? Somebody might save pennies by using less tea to get the color and nothing else in the only drink available). Discuss.
Result: students leave outraged with their canteen, school admin, the government that made this happen.
Solve this math problem: 1% of the population owns 50% of the wealth and nearly all of the property/capital. How many heads would you need to divide from the rest of the body (ideally using a guillotine) to solve this?
Would you mind dropping some inspo? I’m a maths teacher, too.
