ABOUT MATHEMATICS FOR CHANGE
Mathematics for Change is not an alternative curriculum, but a collection of short, ready-to-use lesson modules designed to enrich existing math programs through inquiry, modeling, and real-world connections.
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Founder of Mathematics for Change | Global Schools Advocate (UN SDSN)
Introduction
Mathematics for Change is a digital platform designed for teachers.
It turns mathematics into a tool for exploring and understanding the world, offering ready-to-use lessons, real data, and AI-assisted feedback.
Developed by Elena Martelli, a mathematics educator and curriculum designer, the project helps teachers bring sustainability and critical thinking into math classrooms through clear structures and real-world applications.
Objectives
Mathematics for Change aims to bridge the gap between abstract mathematics and real-world understanding through data-driven, adaptable lessons that connect core concepts to authentic global contexts.
The project seeks to empower teachers with inquiry-based approaches that promote reasoning, modeling, and interpretation rather than rote learning.
It also strives to engage students in exploration, collaboration, and meaningful application of mathematics to real issues, while promoting mathematical literacy as a foundation for critical thinking and informed citizenship.
Finally, Mathematics for Change works to build a global community of educators sharing innovative, classroom-tested resources that make mathematics both accessible and relevant for all learners.
Vision
Mathematics for Change envisions a world where math education inspires curiosity, critical thinking, and global awareness.
Mathematics becomes a living language — not only for calculation, but for interpreting and questioning the world.
Teachers are designers of meaningful learning experiences, and students are problem-solvers who link abstract reasoning to real-life insight.
Ultimately, the classroom becomes a space where mathematics nurtures understanding and a sense of connection to the systems shaping our planet.
About Elena Martelli
Elena Martelli is a mathematics educator and curriculum designer with over 15 years of experience in secondary education. Her work focuses on transforming mathematics into a meaningful and interdisciplinary subject that empowers students to explore, interpret, and model the world around them.
As a Global Schools Advocate within the UN SDSN network, she has collaborated with international educators to develop innovative classroom practices that integrate real-world data, sustainability, modelling, and inquiry-based learning.
In 2025, she was invited to contribute to the Global Goals Week in New York City as part of the Schools for Goal 7 initiative, sharing how mathematics education can foster sustainability awareness and student agency.
Her STEAM lesson “Tidal Power: Modeling the Energy of Sea Currents” was selected for inclusion in the official Greening STEAM Education Guide, recognising its interdisciplinary approach connecting mathematics, sustainability, and real-world data analysis.
Through Mathematics for Change, Elena has presented and connected with educators in international educational contexts including London, Braga, and Milan. In 2026, Mathematics for Change will also be presented at ISTELive + ASCD Annual Conference in Orlando and at the NCTM Annual Meeting & Exposition in Denver.
The project has been piloted across schools on five continents, supporting teachers in bringing authentic global contexts into mathematics classrooms through classroom-ready lessons and inquiry-based learning.
Elena believes that mathematics can be a universal language for change, helping students see the beauty of patterns not only in numbers, but also in the systems shaping our world.