Welcome to the magical world of winter, where snow-covered landscapes become the perfect canvas for learning geometry in a fun and interactive way! Embrace the winter wonderland with these six delightful winter activities that blend the magic of snow with fundamental geometry concepts. Engage your young learners in hands-on, snowy adventures that make geometry come alive in the chilly outdoors. Snowy Geometric SculpturesTurn the snowy outdoors into a geometric playground with snowy geometric sculptures! Provide children with guides for shapes like cubes, spheres, cylinders, rectangular prisms, and cones. Watch as their creativity takes flight, molding these shapes into artistic snow sculptures. As they build, engage in conversations about the properties and names of the shapes, making geometry come alive in a winter wonderland. Snowy 3D Shapes Hide And SeekTurn the snowy outdoors into a treasure hunt for 3D shapes. Hide various objects like cones, cylinders, cubes, rectangular prisms, and spheres in the snow. Children can search for these shapes and then discuss their attributes. They can also match them to corresponding shapes on a worksheet. This activity combines the excitement of a scavenger hunt with shape recognition and introduces the concept of 3-dimensional shapes in a playful way. Snowy Geometric PatternsMake some stencils of different pattern block shapes. Provide children with colored water in spray bottles and patterns. Have them make various patterns in the snow by spraying the colored water onto the snow through the stencils.This hands-on activity combines patterning with geometry exploration. Symmetry SnowmenInstead of just making snowmen, ask the children to create symmetrical snowmen, ensuring that each side mirrors the other. Discuss symmetry and encourage creativity as they adorn their snowmen with natural materials. This activity introduces symmetry in a fun and imaginative way. Snowman MeasurementBuild snowmen with different-sized body parts, such as small, medium, and large snowballs for the head, body, and base. Discuss size comparisons and measurement as children arrange the snowballs. You can also incorporate simple measuring tools like rulers or non-standard items (e.g., twigs) to measure the height of their snow creations. Winter Puzzles Using Pattern BlocksSometimes the weather doesn't cooperate and it's necessary to take winter activities indoor. Here's a great activity to try. Create some winter puzzles that can be constructed using pattern blocks. Trace a pattern block design on a transparent page or sheet protector and place it over a completed winter puzzle. Take a picture and print it on cardstock. Then cut it out and put it into a baggie to save it. Print another picture and place it in the baggie. Use the shapes and the picture to rebuild the puzzle. By integrating geometry and measurement into winter activities, children can develop a deeper understanding of these mathematical concepts in a fun and engaging way. These activities promote hands-on learning, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills for young learners. *Let the snowy outdoors be your classroom as you embark on these geometry adventures. Bundle up, head outside, and let the snowy math extravaganza begin! Related PostsWinter provides a magical and snowy backdrop for engaging and educational activities in the classroom. As primary teachers, incorporating measurement into winter-themed lessons can make learning more fun and engaging for young students. Check out 7 creative measurement activities that will not only capture the imagination of your students but also blend math and science ideas. Snowman Size ChallengeKids love building snowmen, so why not bring the fun into the classroom. Have your students build the snowmen just outside the classroom so they can see them throughout the day. If you add in some math and science, it will make the activity even more fun. Task: Get your students to measure the circumference of the different parts of their snowmen and then compare the results with their classmates. Math focus: measuring the size of different parts of a snowman helps with understanding shapes and sizes. Science focus: Observing the structure of the snowman introduces basic geometric principles. Fun thought: The snowman's middle could be as wide as a bear hug! Snow Depth InvestigationsWhen the snow falls, it doesn't fall evenly. it can be varying depths due to wind, landscape and nearby structures or trees. Task: Take advantage of this winter landscape by measuring the depth of snow in various locations. Students can use rulers to measure snow depth on the driveway, grass, under trees, and in snowdrifts. This activity not only teaches measurement skills but also encourages observation and data collection. Math focus: Using rulers to check how deep the snow is in different places, helps teach about numbers and spatial concepts. Science focus: Comparing snow depth in different locations encourages the understanding of weather patterns and how snow accumulates. Fun fact: The snow on the grass is like a fluffy pillow, while the snowdrifts resemble magical mountains. Winter Temperature StudyBraving the cold to measure temperatures on snow days is exciting for kids. As the wind howls and the snowflakes dance, students can collect temperatures and then use the data to make comparisons. Task: Explore the winter weather and record temperatures on snow days and compare them with non-snow days. Include the windchill factor. Math focus: Recording and comparing temperatures involves analyzing and interpreting data. Science focus: Understand the impact of windchill and how it makes the temperature feel colder. Winter Themed BakingCombine the joy of winter with the excitement of baking by creating winter-themed treats. Task: Practice following recipes and using precise measurements to make some delicious snacks. Math focus: Precise measurements in baking emphasize the importance of accurate calculations. Science focus: The baking process shows the transformation of ingredients, introducing basic chemistry concepts. Weight Of Different Snow TypesKids are excited to learn that different types of snow have different weights and why this is so. Task: Compare the weight of flaky, packed, and wet snow. Math focus: Weighing different types of snow involves understanding units of measurement and comparing weights. Science focus: Exploring the weight of snow types connects to the physical properties of water in different states. Fun fact: Packed snow feels like a heavy snowball, while flaky snow is as light as a snowflake gently falling from the sky and weighs very little. Snow Angel Wing Span MeasurementTake your students outdoors for some winter fun by making snow angels. After creating their snowy masterpieces, have them measure the wing spans of their snow angels. This activity combines creativity with measurement, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for students. Task: Make snow angels and measure the wing spans. Math focus: Measuring wing spans involves comparing lengths and learning about spatial relationships Science focus: Creating snow angels introduces the physics of body imprints and the impact of pressure on snow. Melting Snow Volume ExperimentThe grand finale of our winter measurement activities is a melting snow experiment. Task: Explore the concept of volume by measuring the amount of snow in a bucket before and after it melts. Math focus: Measuring volume requires understanding of units and how they relate to three-dimensional space. Science focus: This experiment allows students to witness the transformation of a solid (snow) into a liquid (water) while practicing measurement and observation skills. Winter provides a unique opportunity to make measurement activities in the classroom exciting and relevant for primary students. By delving into these winter measurement activities, students not only strengthen their math skills but also develop a deeper appreciation for the science that surrounds them in the winter wonderland. The joy of discovery is not just in the snowflakes but in the math and science concepts that come to life during these hands-on adventures. Winter measurement activities aren't just about numbers and rulers; they're about creating lasting memories and instilling a love for learning. As primary teachers, let's embrace the enchantment of the season and turn our classrooms into snowy laboratories where every measurement tells a tale of winter wonder. The joy in their eyes and the laughter in the air will be the true measures of success in your winter measurement adventures. Related PostsThe holidays are over and it is time to jump back into academics. This sometimes takes some time as the structure and routines are reestablished. Getting settled after the Christmas break may require not only activities to make kids comfortable and help them get regrounded and back into routines, but also some activities that inspire and excite them as they get back to academics. January and February are full of different celebrations that can be the focus of activities as academics are reintroduced. Here are a few ideas and resources that might be fun to try. Goal settingFor January, goal setting is a great idea. It can be a way to make a fresh start and provide a focus for upcoming months. These goals can also be used as a focal point for upcoming student led conferences in the spring. Here are some templates that might be helpful. It is important to make sure that children understand that they have accomplished many things as well. They need to focus on what they can do well and then choose things that they wish to improve. These stars and wishes could be personal, academic, or general. It is up to the kids to identify what their strengths are, but they may need some guidance at the beginning. Perhaps they could ask others what they think. We can be our worst critics and we may not see what others see, so having others share what they notice could be helpful and empowering. Here is a template to fill out and keep as a reminder. Grab a free copy now. Ringing in the New YearMany families celebrated on New Year's Eve. Some of your students may have been able to join in as well. They may have had fun activities to do and noise makers or fireworks may have been part of the celebration as well. Others may not have had this experience. Why not have a class celebration to start off the New Year. Try creating photo booth images and a bulletin board display. Many stores are clearing out New Years items so you may be able to get some hats, blowers, and maybe even glasses to add to the fun. Here are some templates that could work as frames for the photo booth pictures. They include frames without the year so they can be used for future years if you are not ready to use them this year. Groundhog DayFebruary 2nd kids wait to find out if the groundhog has predicted an early spring or another 6 weeks of winter. Here are some math and language activities as well as a couple of mazes that might be fun to try. Other Winter CelebrationsChinese New Year, Hundreds Day, and Valentine's Days are 3 other winter celebrations that kids love to celebrate. Here are some activities for those special days. No matter the celebration, hands on fun activities can help to engage kids in their learning. They can be used as a jumping off point before introducing new concepts, or they can be the theme for writing or research. It's up to your creativity and needs as you plan your lessons. Here's to having fun and learning as the New Year begins. Related PostsNumbers are all around us, and they play a big part in our lives. Many people might think that math is just something they are required to learn in school, but understanding numbers, also known as "number sense," is super important in real life too! It helps with everyday problem solving and making smart choices. Understanding numbers is a confidence booster and something of a super power that helps us in the real world. Teaching kids number sense is necessary to help them function successfully in real life. Here are some examples that may help your students understand why they are learning about numbers. Imagine you're at a store, and you want to buy a toy. You need to know how much it costs and how much money you have. That's where number sense comes in. It helps you figure out if you have enough money to buy that awesome game or if you need to save a little more. Number sense makes everyday problem-solving easier! It also helps with making smart choices. Let's say you're planning a birthday party, and you need to know how many cupcakes to bake or how many friends to invite. Number sense helps you make those decisions, so your party turns out just right. When you understand numbers, you feel more confident in everything you do with math. Whether it's doing homework, playing math games, or even just counting your candy, number sense gives you the power to tackle math challenges with a big smile. Think of number sense as a real-life superpower. It helps you understand money, time, and measurements. You'll use it daily, whether you're budgeting your money, planning a trip, or even cooking your favorite meal. Think about how math sometimes feels like a tricky puzzle. Students often seemed overwhelmed and confused as they try to figure out the puzzle. Well, number sense is like having a magic key to unlock those puzzles. It helps them add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers like a pro. When math is easy, it's more fun! Here are some ways to teach math in the classroom so students are more engaged and able to understand how it works. Teaching Number Sense in the Classroom1. Math Adventures and Hands-on Learning: Start with everyday stuff. Let students count and group toys, buttons, or snacks. Count books, pencils, or even footsteps. Ask questions like, "Can you find seven red buttons?" or "How many pencils do we have?" or "How many paper clips do you have?" This makes math real and relatable. 2. Games are a game-changer in the classroom. Try "I Spy" with numbers, "Math Bingo", "Number Twister" ,"Number Bingo," "Math Memory," or "Guess the Missing Number." These games make learning feel like play and add in math skills while having fun. 3. Story Telling Math: Create math stories or scenarios. Imagine going on a treasure hunt, where students need to count their steps to find the hidden treasure. It's math with a story twist! 4. Math Puzzles and Riddles: Challenge young minds with math puzzles and riddles. These are like brain workouts that make kids smarter while having fun. They boost problem-solving skills and number sense. 5. Real-Life Math: Show them that math is everywhere. Involve them in cooking (measuring ingredients), shopping (calculating change), or planning (measuring distances on a map). Ideas for Parents to Nurture Number Sense at Home1. Math Conversations: Engage your child in casual conversations about numbers and math concepts. Ask open-ended questions like, "How many ways can we make 10 using addition?" 2. Math Books: Read math-themed books together. Many children's books incorporate math concepts in a story format, making learning more enjoyable. Reading together not only bonds you but also makes math part of your child's bedtime routine. 3. Math Art Projects: Create art using math. For instance, make symmetrical drawings, geometric shapes, or patterns. It helps with pattern recognition and can be a fun way to express math. 4. Math Apps and Websites: Explore kid-friendly math apps and websites. There are plenty of interactive games that make learning math feel like play. 5. Family Math Challenges: Set up friendly math challenges or competitions within the family. For example: Who can count the most objects in a minute? This can motivate kids to apply their number sense skills in a fun way. 6. Math Treasure Hunt: Create your own math treasure hunt at home. Write clues that involve counting, adding, or subtracting. Your child will be the Sherlock Holmes of math! 7. Math Around the House: Integrate math into daily life. Measuring ingredients while cooking or estimating how many socks are in the laundry basket are perfect opportunities. 8. Math Exploration: Encourage exploration by providing materials like measuring tapes, rulers, and scales. Let your child measure objects around the house. As primary school teachers, we have the power to make math come alive for our students. By teaching number sense in an engaging way and offering parents practical ways to reinforce it at home, we're setting the stage for a lifetime of math success. Remember, math is not just about numbers; it's about exploration, discovery, and making sense of the world. Let's work together to make math a joyful journey for our students, both in the classroom and at home! If you are looking for resources that will help with number sense and other math concepts, check out my math activities category for a variety of different options.
Have fun with math and watch your students flourish as they gain more understanding of numbers and how they work. Numbers are all around us, and they play a big part in our lives. You might think that math is just something you learn in school, but understanding numbers, also known as "number sense," is super important in real life too! Teaching our children to understand numbers helps them develop a strong and intuitive grasp of math concepts. So, let's explore what number sense is and how we can make math exciting in the classroom. What is number sense?Number sense is like having a superpower for numbers. It's not just about memorizing math facts but truly understanding how numbers work together. It covers counting, number relationships, estimation, identifying patterns, and understanding place value. It provides the tools to be able to handle every day situations that involve math confidently and comfortably. Let's take a closer look at some of the concepts it covers and how we can help kids understand the concepts. Counting skillsChildren need to learn to count fluently, not by rote, but with an understanding of each number being a quantity. When they count objects, each number relates to an object being counted. Touching objects as they count them will help with this correlation. It is important to practice counting objects until they are able to correctly count them every time. Do hands on activities so the math is tangible. Start with real-life objects. Let students count and group toys, buttons, or snacks. Count books, pencils, or even footsteps. Ask questions like, "Can you find five red objects?" or "How many shoes do we have?" This makes numbers real and relatable. Number relationshipsIt is important for kids to see how numbers relate to one another. For example: 6 is one more than 5 or two less than 8. These relationships will help them understand the basic operations of addition and subtraction and later on multiplication and division. Math vocabulary for these relationships in also important. Terms like: more than, less than, equal to, and greater than are only a few examples that can be taught to help them understand these relationships. Play games that involve looking for clues that use some addition and subtraction to solve them. Practice making groups that show the relationships between numbers. Play "Guess the missing number" by answering yes or no questions. EstimationIt is not always possible to count everything, so it is important to make educated guesses for quantities. For example: How many candies are in the jar? Children often have little idea about how to estimate and the responses are way off. It will take practice estimating and then counting for them to understand how to get closer in their approximations. Turn estimation activities into challenges. Who can get the closest number? Can they get it without going over? Practice using small amounts at first and gradually increase the number of objects being estimated as the results get closer. Identifying patternsGet kids to recognize patterns in numbers, like even numbers (2, 4, 6) or the way odd numbers always end in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9. Try skip counting games and look for patterns when counting. For example: when counting by 5 all numbers end in 5 or 0. Reading books about math patterns is also fun to do and helps kids understand the patterns better. For example: Even Steven and Odd Todd shows the relationship between even and odd numbers. Amanda Bean's Amazing Dream shows how multiplication is just a faster way of adding. There are many books that show math patterns and relationships. Find some that fit with the concepts that you are teaching to help enrich your students' understanding. Understanding place valueIt is important that students understand what the relationship is between multiple numbers grouped together and their placement or order. For example: 4 in 42 means forty, and 2 means two). We refer to these as digits that represent different values. Play games that encourage kids to identify the mystery digit or build a number with the place values given. Check out this blog post for more about place value and some activities and resources that might interest you. Connecting number sense to the real worldNumber sense is not just for math classes. It is a necessary skill for navigating in the real world. The more we focus on how it is used in practical settings, the more our students will see its purpose and begin to use it more confidently. Being able to understand number sense and use it effectively will help with handling money, time, and measurements. It will also be used in many different settings, whether budgeting an allowance, planning a trip, or even cooking a favorite meal. Remember, math is not just about numbers; it's about exploring, discovering, and making sense of the world around us. Next time I will share ideas and activities that can bring number sense into everyday activities, and how we can encourage activities at home to help our students develop a solid understanding of how to use their number sense skills in their world. Related PostsChanging weather, cooler temperatures, and color changes are all signs of the arrival of fall. There's something magical about the colors, sounds, and smells of fall. Students often find themselves more engaged in learning when they are surrounded by the beauty of nature. Whether it's studying the changing colors of leaves, identifying different animals, or learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin, outdoor lessons are inherently captivating. Fresh air and natural surroundings can help improve students' focus and stimulate their creativity. Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can boost cognitive function and problem-solving skills, making outdoor classrooms an ideal setting for critical thinking activities. Spending time outdoors has been linked to improved mental health and reduced stress levels. Fall's cool, crisp air and the calming influence of nature can help students feel more relaxed and connected to the world around them. The hands on experiences and fresh air also invigorate students and engage them in their learning. Fall is the perfect time to encourage physical activity among students. Hiking, nature walks, and outdoor games not only promote exercise but also foster teamwork and social interaction. Getting students moving in a natural setting can help overcome the hours of sitting in classrooms and keep them engaged. There are many different subjects that can be taught outdoors. Each of these add a real world element to the students' learning and experience. Integrating social studies and science activities into your fall outdoor learning adventures can provide a well-rounded educational experience. To further enrich your fall outdoor learning adventures, try incorporating some math and language activities into the mix. Here are some suggestions for social studies, science, math, and language arts that might be of interest. Social Studies• visiting local historical landmarks * learning about fall harvest and traditions • using maps and doing a geography scavenger hunt Science• leaf identification activities • studying the pumpkin life cycle • weather monitoring • learning about weathering and erosion * keeping a nature journal • stream study • learning about seed dispersements Math• nature math scavenger hunt • using measurement skills outdoors • fall data collection Language Arts• outdoor poetry writing • nature journaling with descriptive writing • vocabulary scavenger hunt (looking for examples in nature) • reading fall themed books Preparation tipsHere are some preparation tips that will help make your outdoor sessions successful. Select an outdoor location that suits your curriculum and learning objectives. Local parks, forested areas, the seashore, or even your school's own outdoor spaces can be transformed into effective learning environments. Make sure students are dressed appropriately for the fall weather. Layers, hats, and gloves are essential to keep everyone comfortable during outdoor lessons. Tailor your lessons to incorporate the unique features of fall. Explore topics like the changing colors of leaves, the science behind falling leaves, the life cycle of pumpkins, or even Halloween-themed literature. Bring technology outdoors by using tablets or smartphones for nature observation apps or taking pictures to document findings. This can enhance the learning experience and provide opportunities for digital storytelling. Make sure that your plans are flexible and adaptable as the weather can be unpredictable and you may need to make changes quickly. With preparation ahead of time and some back up ideas in case of change, getting outside to learn is worth the effort and will benefit your students. Embracing the great outdoors during the fall season is a fantastic way to enhance your students' learning experience. The benefits of outdoor education are numerous, from improved engagement and focus to enhanced physical and mental well-being. By incorporating nature into your curriculum, you can create unforgettable learning moments and inspire a lifelong love for the natural world in your students. So, this fall, take your class outside and let the wonders of the season become your classroom. Happy outdoor learning! Related PostsIt's that time of year again. Summer break is ending for some and nearing the halfway mark for others. Teachers are starting to gear up again and think about the new school year. School supplies are everywhere, back to school ads are appearing on the television and the teacher brain is going into overdrive. As hard as it is, it's important to try and keep relaxing and recharging so that you don't burn out before the year even gets going. Does this sound like you?• can't turn off teacher brain • wondering how you are going to do assessments • not finding enough time for planning • juggling setting up routines while keeping kids engaged • differentiating for range of ability levels • trying to make lessons fresh and engaging So many questions and worriesHow can I go on when I am so exhausted? How will I manage to assess everyone while keeping others engaged? What if the range in my class is too wide? I've been there. It is exhausting and at times overwhelming. That's why I have collected some of the different resources and activities that have been successful with my students and I've created The Ultimate Primary Teachers Ready To Go Kit. These resources and activities can make the beginning of the year enjoyable and less stressful for both you and your students. Returning to school after summer break isn't always fun for kids. They've been free to do different things without the structure of the classroom routines. Now they have to fit into set schedules, rules, and routines of a new grade and a new teacher. Engage your students from the very first day with dynamic activities and icebreakers. This kit features interactive games, team-building exercises, and activities that foster a positive classroom community. With the colorful posters and educational activities, you can set up an inspiring learning space that encourages curiosity and exploration. This comprehensive kit is designed specifically for primary teachers. Packed with a wide range of resources and activities, this kit is your go-to solution for start-of-the-year preparation, emergency sub plans, and engaging substitute teacher activities. From day one to those unexpected absences, it's got you covered! Check out what it includesClassroom management resources and ice breakers and some active games Posters and task cards as well as ice breaker tools and active games that will help you with your classroom routines and management to create a positive classroom environment. Back To School resources full of activities for the first weeks back These resources will give your students many different activities to do while you are trying to do assessments or trying to get to know your kids. Literacy activities for reading, writing, language development Reading for evidence, working with vocabulary and sounds, task cards for parts of speech and idioms, writing prompts are just a few of the activities here. Math review for basic operations, graphing, and measurement Basic math operations review, working with glyphs, and measurement games to get kids ready for more skills as they move on to more abstract concepts. Science posters, graphic organizers, and experiments to get the year started off right Positive self esteem activities and resources to create positive mindsets Get ready to kick off the school year with confidence and ease and ensure a successful academic year for both you and your students. Get The Ultimate Primary Teachers Ready To Go Kit today and experience the peace of mind that comes with being well-prepared! Not sure if you need the full kit? There are individual kits available as well. There is even a sampler kit for those who want to try just a few of the activities from each area. Check out my TPT store to find out more about the individual kits. If you are ready for a less stressful start to the year grab your ultimate kit now.
How many times have you heard an adult say they are no good at math or that they hate math? So many times, it isn't that they weren't capable, but that they were never really shown how to do it with real world applications or with understanding. They were just taught algorithms and formulas and didn't see why they needed them. The way math is taught now is very different, or at least it should be. I am a strong believer in making sure that things make sense so that they can be applied to other situations. What might seem straight forward or clear to one person might make no sense at all to another person. Just think about the different ways math is used. It isn't just adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing numbers. It is also measurement, geometry, coordinates, graphing, statistics, just to mention a few. Some people are really good at numbers and calculations, while others have great spatial awareness, and some can solve puzzles while others struggle to see the relationships between shapes and designs. Math has it own language as well. This can be confusing for some people. Word problems are very hard for some people to figure out. Over the years, i discovered that it is necessary to go back to the basics and make sure that the building blocks are in place before attempting more complex or abstract concepts. When I was working with intermediate students in small groups, I found that many of them didn't know their basic facts and they struggled with addition and subtraction strategies. This made multiplication and division almost impossible for them to do well. I took them back to the basics and in time they were doing much of the work covered in class with some proficiency. They still needed extra support, but it was starting to make sense to them. They even started to enjoy math instead of dreading it. You can find out more about ways to help kids improve in this blog post. Practicing math skills during the summer will go a long way in helping to maintain skills for the new year. There are plenty of fun and engaging activities you can plan for kids during the summer that incorporate math and keep them learning. Here are some ideas: Math themed scavenger huntCreate a scavenger hunt where kids have to solve math problems or puzzles to find hidden objects or clues. You can design it around a specific math concept, like geometry or fractions, and hide clues or objects that reinforce those concepts. Cooking and baking Involve kids in cooking and baking activities that require them to use measurements, conversions, and fractions. Encourage them to follow recipes, measure ingredients, and calculate serving sizes. They can also explore the concept of ratios by experimenting with different ingredient proportions. Outdoor measurement explorationTake advantage of the outdoors to explore measurement concepts. Have kids measure the height of trees, the length of their shadows at different times of the day, or the circumference of various objects using a measuring tape or ruler. They can record their findings and compare measurements. Math board gamesIntroduce kids to math-focused board games or card games that involve strategic thinking and problem-solving. Games like Monopoly, Set, or Sudoku can help improve their math skills while having fun. Math art projectsCombine math and art by engaging kids in geometric art projects. They can create symmetrical designs, tessellations, or use grids to draw patterns. This allows them to explore concepts like symmetry, shapes, and angles while expressing their creativity. Math related craftsEncourage kids to engage in crafts that involve math concepts. For example, they can create paper origami shapes, construct 3D models using geometric shapes, or design and build structures using various materials. These activities promote spatial reasoning and critical thinking skills. Math apps and online gamesUtilize educational math apps and online games that provide interactive learning experiences. There are numerous apps and websites available that offer math games, puzzles, and quizzes suitable for different age groups. Math journalingHave kids maintain a math journal where they can record and explore math concepts they encounter in their daily lives. They can write about real-life applications of math, solve problems, or illustrate concepts. This encourages reflection and critical thinking. By integrating math into summer activities, you can help children strengthen their math skills while having a great time. Related PostsThe sunshine is here and kids are anxious to get outside, so why not take advantage of this and do some outdoor math activities and other lessons? Many different subjects can be done outside the classroom walls if you add in some creativity and movement. Here are 5 fun ideas for teaching math and social studies outdoors. Taking Measurement OutdoorsMany classes study measurement in the spring. A culminating activity for this could be an outdoor event where teams practice linear measurement. Here is a resource that might help. Outdoor Measurement Games Team Events Working With Time And RacingIf you teach time in the spring, perhaps you could go one step further and introduce stopwatches. Timing different events can be fun and many different devices actually have stopwatches on them now. You could have a fun day with different activities that need timing, such as running, filling different containers, wheelbarrow races, etc. You could also set a time to beat and have the kids do activities that have to beat the time. For older children, comparing times, looking at the data and maybe even figuring out elapsed time could also be included. Because the kids are having fun and moving around, they won't realize that they are studying time, but they will be applying skills to real world situations. Taking Mapping Skills OutdoorsReading maps and understanding them is still an important skill in today's digital age. Many people rely on the maps feature in their vehicle or on their phone to get them from point A to point B, but they don't have a clear understanding of how to read maps on their own. Learning how to use mapping skills like directions and grids helps when using maps at places that don't have a digital option. For example, when you go to certain amusement parks, zoos, or other events that have activities and events spread out around the grounds, being able to follow a map is important. Just think of all the maps in malls, at parks, or even at visitor centers that have "You Are Here" indicated on them. Can you follow directions from there to get to where you want to go? Teaching kids how to use these skills in practical settings requires practice. Here is a chance to get outside and actually try to use them to find things, locate different areas, and be able to help others to find them too. Creating maps of the neighborhood or school grounds can also work as practice using grids, directions, and even symbols and legends. Here is a resource that may help. Mapping Skills Using Grids Using Grids And Working With ScaleUnderstanding how scale works is an important skill when interpreting maps, blueprints, house plans, and other documents. A great way to practice doing this is using grid paper and measuring the perimeter or area of an object and then drawing it on the paper. It is important to indicate what the size of each square is so that the measurements match what is drawn on the paper. You could choose the school yard, playground, surrounding neighborhood or any other area or object for your topic. Here is a resource that may help with understanding perimeter and area along with some activities to practice using both. Perimeter And Area Solving Math Word ProblemsWord problems can be especially challenging for some kids, so taking them outdoors and actually doing some hands on work with them might help. I remember creating puzzles when I was geocaching that required people to solve math questions using objects in the park in order to find the coordinates. Something similar could be done in the school yard. For example, check out and find all the trash containers, swings, trees, signs, basketball hoops, hopscotch or foursquare marking, etc. Using these objects around the school yard, create math word problems that must be solved. You could work in pairs, individually, or even in teams to solve them. The Sky's The LimitThese are only a few of the different activities that can be done outdoors to work on math and social studies skills. Depending on what you are studying and how creative you are, there are many others that can be done as well. So get outside, have fun, and keep the learning going. Related PostsWhen babies take their first steps, they wobble and they often fall. With help and practice they begin to take steps by themselves. Before long they are running and they are able to hop, skip, and leap over things. Baby steps lead to bigger steps. That is true in all areas of life including Math. The basic facts are the baby steps that lead to more complex and abstract skills. Once the basic steps are mastered, it is time to move on to more complex problems using double and triple digit numbers. Complex problems can be daunting, but the good news is that there are many strategies that can help. Looking for tensThis strategy involves breaking down the big numbers into smaller, more manageable ones. We search for numbers that can easily be combined or subtracted in groups of ten. Finding pairs of numbers that add up to ten make calculations easier. It's like a treasure hunt where we search for numbers that can make adding and subtracting easier and use that knowledge to solve more challenging problems. Using A Number LineNumber lines are a great tool for addition and subtraction. They provide a visual representation to help with seeing how numbers relate to each other. Kids can see the steps needed to get from one number to another and it helps them to understand more complicated calculations as they hop to the answers. Regrouping Using Base Ten Blocks And MoneyRegrouping is another strategy used when working with larger numbers. Using base ten blocks as you practice this skill will help with visualizing why we regroup and what it really means. Regrouping is really just trading ones for tens or tens for ones which helps to make calculations easier. Once the concept of regrouping is understood there are several other ways to help with remembering how it works. My favorite is banking. I teach my kids to take 10 pennies and trade them for a dime when adding. If they don't have enough pennies when doing subtracting, I tell them to go to the bank and trade a dime in for 10 pennies. As they move on to 3 digit addition and subtraction I tell them that 10 dimes makes one dollar so they can trade dimes for dollars or dollars for dimes when doing their calculations. Working With Expanded Notation And Combining PartsWe also have expanding notation which allows us to break down numbers into their individual digits. This helps us to see the value of the individual digits and it also helps us to add similar values. We can also use expanding notation for figuring out subtraction. See the image below for an explanation and example. Standard Algorithm For AdditionMany of us grew up with an algorithm for addition. This is still valid today, but it is important to understand how it works and what we are actually doing when we use it. Most often we stack the numbers one under the other and make sure that the digits line up. The ones would be added and then the tens would be added. For regrouping, you would need to carry the extra tens and add them to the tens column. See the images below for an example. Standard Algorithm For SubtractionThe standard algorithm for subtraction works the same way, but when regrouping we need to take from the tens column and add it to the ones column when we don't have enough ones to do the subtraction. See the images below for some examples. Anchor Charts For Addition And SubtractionWhen learning the basic facts for addition and subtraction, many strategies are taught and practiced. Each person will have some strategies that work well for them and they can apply these strategies to more complex questions. Get a free copy of these anchor charts by signing up for my newsletter. If you are interested in some practice worksheets to go along with the different strategies, check them out here. I hope you find these tips helpful as you continue to guide your students through the complexities of math. Related Posts |
About Me Charlene Sequeira
I am a wife, mother of 4, grandmother of 9, and a retired primary and music teacher. I love working with kids and continue to volunteer at school and teach ukulele. Categories
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