Teaching Math Through Boatbuilding
Our kids need to learn how to use math. They need more “hands-on” experiences than they usually get in a classroom. I believe, by working as teachers, wooden boat builders can help. This piece introduces how to do this work, and I hope it will also serve as a call to action.
Build a boat with kids and they’ll learn fractions, geometry, and maybe even a little bit of algebra. More important, they’ll learn that without math they can’t do the job right. Being unable to do the job right has direct consequences: the boat will leak and they are going to get wet. Kids who learn to use math in the shop can transfer those skills to the classroom with confidence and ability.