Published in Oak Hill Blog

January 13, 2020

We live in a time where paper maps have become a memory of days gone by.  If we want to find the directions to where we are going, it is as simple as typing an address in our telephone and letting our GPS do the rest.  It is definitely a lot easier to get from point A to point B, but something has been lost along the way.

Interstate Highway Project at the best  Monmouth County Private School

Why would math teachers at Oak Hill Academy, top private school in Monmouth County, have their students study maps? Have you ever considered the possibility that there were math concepts behind the numbering system of our highways?  Anyone who has traveled from New Jersey through Washington DC into Virginia would have noticed signs for I-95, I-195, I-295, I-395, I-495 and I-695.  Although at times we all may have thought the reason behind this was to torment the drivers, there is a math concept behind the system!

Studying the numbering system of the Interstate Highways was the underlying math concept in a project that the 7th Grade Math Workshop students worked on during class. 

Paper Maps?!

There was a lot of excitement in the classes when the teachers handed out the “old fashioned” paper maps of the United States.  The students took a few minutes to explore the maps before beginning the project. Students answered questions such as what is the pattern for the 2 digit interstates and what is the pattern for the 3 digit interstates? Once students understood the numbering pattern, they answered questions including why does I-35 bisect the country and not I-55 and name three different states and cities in which you would discover an intersection of two interstates whose numbers sum to 105.

Using unique methods such as this project to teach our students is commonplace at Oak Hill Academy.  This is precisely why Oak Hill Academy is considered the best private school in Monmouth County.

~Mrs. Rita Cotterell

Share
Article By Oak Hill Academy
Oak Hill Academy is a Monmouth County NJ private school that is co-educational, independent, nonsectarian, and nonprofit for grades per-kindergarten through eight.

Our Latest News

Five Keys to Enhance Student Intrinsic Motivation

Five Keys to Enhance Student Intrinsic Motivation We often hear that many students today are bored and not motivated in Pre-K – 12 schools.  We have found that extrinsic motivation such as grades and rewards have little effect and are short-lived.  Today, learners of all ages have diversions apart from school, with lives filled with […]

Read More
“The Portfolio Project”

“The Portfolio Project” What is a portfolio? Oak Hill Academy is excited to offer the opportunity for the eighth-grade class to create an online digital portfolio using my.bulbapp.com.  The portfolio is a collection of the student’s academic and personal achievements. It will include projects, essays, personal reflections, descriptions of activities, pictures, and videos. Students can […]

Read More
Collaborating Extends Learning

Collaborating Extends Learning People working together is essential for any successful endeavor. Whether it be for nations, companies, or families, working toward a common goal usually leads to the best possible outcome. In the educational setting, this is even more essential since collaboration is the primary focus of interaction. Students engage and learn from each […]

Read More
Asking Questions Develops Critical Thinking

Asking Questions Develops Critical Thinking Beside acquiring the skills to learn (i.e. reading, writing, speaking, and computing,) our individual education must include the ability to think, make good decisions, and seek answers to our everyday problems. We live in a world that is infused with constant questioning.  We are mostly faced with simple questions, which […]

Read More
Get The Latest News From Oak Hill! Join our newsletter now
News & Events

News & Events

Featured News

More News

United Nations Officer visits 5th grade Read More
Oak Hill 8th Graders Recognized in the Daughters of the American Revolution Shrewsbury – Monmouth Chapter Essay Contest Read More
Oak Hill Academy has the Top Mathlete in MathCounts again! Read More
Swimmers Each Break Two Records Read More
View More

Upcoming Events

Friday, March 24
Saturday, March 25
Monday, March 27
View All Events