“Math became a mystery-solving adventure — and my students became detectives!”

 The Break-In That Sparked a Lesson

I brought a real twist to our math class!
We explored a story about a break-in at the local museum, where valuable artifacts had gone missing.

A window of the museum was broken, and the police suspected the thieves had used a very tall ladder to get in or out. At the scene of the crime, two marks were found on the ground, about 15 feet away from the base of the building, and the broken window was 20 feet high.

That’s when the question arises: “How tall was the ladder the thieves used?”

Math Detectives on the Case- Application of mathematics

My students immediately became geometry detectives! One talented student drew the museum wall, the ground, and the ladder — and noticed it formed a right triangle.

Then came the exciting part — They applied Pythagorean Theorem,

Substituting the numbers:

a^2+b^2=c^2
15^2+20^2=c^2
225+400=625
c=25

With big smiles and excitement, students announced, we found the answer Nesa ma’am.

“The ladder was 25 feet tall!” 🪜

Fun, Laughter, and Learning

Of course, the next question made everyone laugh — “How could someone sneak around town with a 25-foot ladder?”

Through this fun and imaginative story, students didn’t just calculate numbers — they saw math in real life. They realized that math isn’t just about formulas; it helps us solve problems, analyse clues, and think logically.

My Reflections as a Teacher

Watching my students collaborate, sketch, and reason through the problem reminded me how alive math can be when it is linked to creativity and curiosity.

Teaching is more than a profession; it is a journey of growth and connection. Each day brings opportunities to inspire curiosity and guide students toward their potential. I find joy in those “aha” moments when understanding clicks and confidence grows. Being a teacher has shown me that learning is lifelong, and I am committed to continually reflecting and adapting to support my students’ growth.

“May God bless the entire teaching and student community.”

By NESA STANLEY, Math Teacher