View video clips The Pathways curriculum presents students with design problems from the world of work and guides students in learning mathematics while they create and analyze solutions. In this lesson, students roleplay architects, designing a research lab for Antarctica. After learning enough about the frozen south to inform their design, students work in small groups to first draft a design, and then to decide on the best level of insulation for the walls of their building.

Students use software to generate data about levels of insulation and their effects on heating and building costs. Graphing becomes a focus as students record this data in charts to support arguments that they share with the class. Students follow up with an investigation for roof insulation and draw up a final report.