“When will we ever use this math?” It’s a familiar refrain in classrooms everywhere. But that question can spark a fantastic conversation—one that Superstructures helps bring to life. In the ready-to-use sample structures below, students explore big numbers, uncover the math behind everyday technologies, and connect classroom learning to real-world careers. It’s math with meaning, momentum, and a whole lot of “aha!” moments.
Thousands! Millions! Billions! Most of us—even adults—struggle to feel how big these numbers really are. This playful, collaborative Columns structure helps kids build intuition by anchoring huge quantities to real-world examples (like books in a library or people in a state). Suddenly, the abstract becomes concrete and seriously fun to explore. Use this structure in your classroom!
From phones to drones, technology is woven into every student’s life. But what about the math that makes it all work? This Note Board invites students to explore the tech they use every day and uncover the math powering it behind the scenes. In just 10–20 minutes, they can collaboratively build a shared knowledge-base of math in the wild and learn from each other’s discoveries. Use this structure in your classroom!
Every job involves math, and despite what students may think, plenty of careers actually rely on algebra. With this Connect structure, students collaboratively build a collection of algebra-powered professions—from marine biologist to cryptologist—and explore how each one fits into the bigger picture. For every career, students identify where the math shows up and how it’s used to make real things happen. Use this structure in your classroom!
Try these Superstructures in your classroom or use Soop's Structure Starter to instantly generate a whole set of structures tailored to whatever you’re teaching today. Your students will be engaged, and they’ll leave class a little closer to answering that perennial question once and for all.