December 16, 2025
Across Butler County Schools, classroom learning is interconnected, dynamic, and grounded in real-world understanding. At Butler County High School, a recent classroom experience exemplified this belief, as students combined mathematics, creativity, and cultural exploration in a way that brought the Portrait of a Learner to life through Problem Solving.
This innovative learning activity challenged students to move beyond traditional equations and formulas. Instead, students were asked to explore a holiday from another culture and creatively represent its meaning using advanced mathematical concepts. The result was a powerful demonstration of how problem solving extends far beyond finding the right answer as it involves critical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and a willingness to see the world through new perspectives.
The assignment asked students to research the name and origin of a cultural holiday celebrated outside of the United States. From there, students designed a digital holiday greeting card using Desmos, a graphing platform that allowed them to visually represent their chosen celebration through mathematics. The challenge was both technical and imaginative: each design had to include at least four circles, four ellipses, three parabolas, three hyperbolas, and trigonometric functions such as sine, cosine, and tangent graphs. Students also had to explain how their mathematical choices symbolized the holiday’s cultural significance.
Through this process, students engaged deeply in Problem Solving, one of the core indicators of Butler County Schools’ Portrait of a Learner. They were required to plan, test, revise, and refine their designs, often encountering challenges that demanded persistence and flexible thinking. When graphs did not align as expected or shapes failed to convey their intended meaning, students learned to troubleshoot, adjust variables, and try again.
“This activity pushed students to think differently about math,” said Butler County High School Principal Stoye Young. “Students used math creatively to tell a story rather than simply solve problems on paper. That kind of learning sticks with students because it’s meaningful and relevant.”
The completed projects reflected a wide range of global celebrations, including Bastille Day in France, Giant Kite Festival Day in Guatemala, Lunar New Year in China, and Australia Day. Each design was unique, blending cultural research with precise mathematical execution. Students explained their reasoning in written reflections, articulating how specific curves, shapes, and functions symbolized elements such as fireworks, traditional symbols, or national pride tied to each holiday.
