My daughter insists she hates math. But she likes geometry. Is it because we’ve integrated the reading of Flatland: a Romance in Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott, in which the author offers social commentary in geometric terms? In Flatland, as Abbott’s imaginary society is called, the women are represented by line segments, the lowest order. Irregular male figures are also relegated to the lowest levels of society or destroyed. Equilaterals are respectable. Regular polygons are elite. Circles represent the pinnacle of society. Abbott’s short novel is a bit dry, yet it has succeeded in engaging a young literary-minded student in math. If you can’t find the book through your local library, Dover Publications offers an inexpensive paperback edition. Dover also offers affordable geometric figures coloring/activity books that can help visual/tactile learners better grasp geometry concepts, such as congruency, similarity and surface area.
Allegra's take: Fictional stories that incorporate subjects being studied in the classroom are an excellent way to introduce otherwise uninteresting topics to students. Often, if a student enjoys the story, he or she will want to find out more about the concepts mentioned. All subjects, from math to science to history to foreign language, can incorporate literature into the curriculum.
