Article
Courtesy of Nike

Slick Sneakers

Check out the wild features on these cool kicks

From the September 2020 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will multiply and divide numbers by powers of 10 related to cool sneaker designs.

Lexile: 920L; 690L

Sneakers are everywhere. We use them to jump, play, climb, race, and more. You might be wearing a pair right now! But have you ever seen sneakers that looked like grass or that could lace themselves?

Sneakers were invented in the mid-1800s. They were a sign of wealth at that time, says Elizabeth Semmelhack of the Bata Shoe Museum. Few people could afford the expensive rubber used to make them.

Now you can buy a basic pair for under $20. Recently designers at Nike have been working hard to take sneaker features to the next level. Read on to see some amazing sneakers that pair function with fashion!

Sneakers are everywhere. We wear them to jump and play. We use them to climb and race. You might be wearing a pair right now! But have you ever seen sneakers that looked like grass? Or ones that could lace themselves?

Sneakers were invented in the mid-1800s. Elizabeth Semmelhack of the Bata Shoe Museum says sneakers were a sign of wealth at that time. They were made with rubber. Rubber was expensive back then. Most people couldn’t afford it.

Now you can buy a basic pair for under $20. Designers at Nike have been working hard recently to take sneaker features to the next level. Read on to see some amazing sneakers that pair function with fashion!

Courtesy of Nike

Golf Air Max 97 “Grass”

Grass is normally under your feet, but now it can be worn on your feet! Designed for golfers, this shoe’s sole provides extra traction to grip the ground. The green, turf-like material on top mimics the grass on a golf course.

Grass is normally under your feet. Now it can be worn on your feet! This shoe was designed for golfers. The sole gives extra traction to grip the ground. The green, turf-like material on top looks like the grass on a golf course.

Courtesy of Nike

SB Dunk Low Strangelove

For Valentine’s Day 2020, Nike partnered with skateboard company Strangelove to create a special version of a popular skateboarding shoe. The “sweet” design includes hearts, red laces, white velvet, and pink suede. 

Nike partnered with a skateboard company called Strangelove for Valentine’s Day 2020. Together, they created a special version of a popular skateboarding shoe. The “sweet” design includes hearts and red laces. It also features white velvet and pink suede.

Courtesy of Nike

Nike Adapt BB

Say goodbye to shoelaces! In 2016, Nike created the Nike Mag, which senses the wearer’s foot and tightens or loosens its material to fit. The company only made 89 pairs. The new Nike Adapt BB uses an updated version of the Mag’s technology. It comes with an app to adjust the fit.

Say goodbye to shoelaces! Nike created the Nike Mag in 2016. This shoe senses the wearer’s foot. It tightens or loosens its material to fit. The company only made 89 pairs. The new Nike Adapt BB uses an updated version of the Mag’s technology. The Nike Adapt BB comes with an app to adjust the fit.

Courtesy of Nike

Air Max 97 On-Air: Shanghai “Kaleidoscope”

In 2018, Nike’s On-Air contest invited local artists from cities around the world to create their own sneakers. One winner was Cash Ru’s “Kaleidoscope.” According to Ru, the airy design was inspired by the interaction between clouds and skyscrapers in Shanghai, China.

Nike held a contest in 2018 called On-Air. The company invited local artists from cities around the world to create their own sneakers. One winner was Cash Ru’s “Kaleidoscope.” Ru says the airy design was inspired by clouds and skyscrapers in Shanghai, China.

Now You Try It

Use place value knowledge to answer the questions.

Use place value knowledge to answer the questions.

In March, a pair of Golf Air Max 97 sneakers sold for an average of $0.24 × 10 × 10 × 10. How much was the average cost?

In March, a pair of Golf Air Max 97 sneakers sold for an average of $0.24 × 10 × 10 × 10. How much was the average cost?

A special-edition box comes with extra laces, an art print, Valentine’s Day cards, and stickers. In April, a box sold for $11.28 × 10 × 10. What was the price of a box? 

A special-edition box comes with extra laces, an art print, Valentine’s Day cards, and stickers. In April, a box sold for $11.28 × 10 × 10. What was the price of a box? 

Nike Adapt BB sneakers are waterproof. Researchers tested this feature by drenching them in about 26,660 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 gallons of water per minute. How many gallons per minute was that?

Nike Adapt BB sneakers are waterproof. Researchers tested this feature by drenching them in about 26,660 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 gallons of water per minute. How many gallons per minute was that?

The contest had 0.18 × 10 × 10 finalists, from which only 6,000 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 were voted winners. How many of the finalists were not winners?

The contest had 0.18 × 10 × 10 finalists, from which only 6,000 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 ÷ 10 were voted winners. How many of the finalists were not winners?

video (1)
Activities (9)
Answer Key (1)
Text-to-Speech