Learning to Tell Time Another idea that may help you introduce math to a young child(ren) is to forget about setting up a structured math class that teaches measuring, additions, telling time, etc. Instead ask your child what time their favorite show comes on television.  Point out on the clock how you know that the time has come to watch their show.  For example: The big hand is on the twelve and the small hand is on the three.  Just tell them this and point to the clock hands, without expecting them to remember.  After a few repetitions, they will know what three o clock looks like and what time their show is on television.  Another way to help your child is to draw a clock with the hands in the correct spot and let your child compare the clocks to see if it is time to watch his or her favorite show.  Be sure to label the clock.  If you have other special times make a clock for those after your child has grasped the first clock.

Introducing Geometry Use everyday objects to introduce geometry.  What shape is this cd?  What shape is this book we are going to read?  Before you turn on the TV, what shape is it?  Make cookies in different shapes and count how many triangle cookies you have made, how many round cookies, or square cookies?

Introducing Measuring Make a ruler for your child by cutting a strip from a foam tray about six inches long.  Place the numbers 1-6 an inch apart.  Leave out the ½ inch and ¼ inch lines.  These add confusion and most children are not ready to learn this type of measuring.  Just round up or down if the object falls between two numbers.  To personalize the ruler, allow your child to decorate the back of the ruler.  Demonstrate how to line up the ruler and to see what number is closest to the end of the object.  Start with small objects that are easy to measure such as a Lego or small favorite toy.  Once he or she is measuring on their own, demonstrate how to measure longer items by moving the ruler along the chosen item.

Following are some math activities you can do with your child (ren) to introduce concepts without making a structured learning environment which can frustrate young children who are just beginning to grasp math skills.  I hope they give you ideas that you can expand on when having fun with your child.

 

Beginning Math Activities These first activities are very basic and can be done with very little preparation and require only a short time to complete. Matching games. Help your child build thinking skills.  One way of matching is to allow your child to group the groceries into categories. (can food, fruit, vegetables, etc.) Sorting games. Also helps your child build thinking skills.  One game to play is to give your child a muffin tin and things to sort.  They can sort colored paper clips.  One color per muffin hole. Count.  Count everything.  Ask your child to count how many apples are in the bowl.  After they are finished, take one away and ask how many are left.  They may have to recount from the beginning, but after practice they will be able to tell you. Estimating.  Place no more then 10 like items (m&m’s, beans, pennies, etc) in a clear cup.  Ask your child how many objects they think are in the cup.  After they guess, count the objects and see how close they are to the exact amount.  As they improve, add more objects. I am thinking of a number.  Tell your child that you are thinking of a number between 1-5 or 1-10.  When they make their first guess, tell them higher or lower. Once they understand higher and lower, change to more than and less than.  As their skills improve use numbers greater than 10.  This is a great game to play anywhere or at anytime. Take away Box.  Prepare a box with about 10 items (less if your child is only 3 or is having a hard time counting items.)  Place a stack of index cards with one number per card written on it.  Child draws a card and removes that number of objects from the box.  Be sure to count out loud with your child. Money Game.  Place 3-5 coins in your hand.  Let your child see them.  Close your hand and have your child guess how many of each type of coins were in your hand.

 

Money Sort- assist the child with developing the beginning concept of money and develop logical thinking skills Materials:  pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters Procedure: Place the change on the floor or table.  Examine each denomination of coins.  Talk about the different sizes and colors as your child is sorting them into four different piles.

Shape Hunt-beginning geometry Materials: basket or bucket Procedure: Say to child "I am looking for something shaped like a square."  You may want to have an example of a square for the child to compare to the found objects.  Let the child go through the room collecting square shaped objects.  This is more fun played in a group with objects in the desired shape scattered through the room (similar to an Easter egg hunt.)

Number Match-number recognition Materials:  large sheet of paper,  marker, 9 small squares of paper, ruler Procedure: Measure out nine even squares on the paper using the ruler like a tic tac toe board.  In the center of each square right the numbers 1-9.  On each of the small squares of paper write one number 1-9.  Mix the small  squares of paper up and have child sort the numbers onto the large number board. When your child is able to match the numbers pretty fast, introduce a race game by having two small sets of numbers.  Two children play by  seeing who can match all their numbers first.

My Twin-measuring activity Materials:  ruler, tape measure, colored chalk Procedure: This is a great summer activity.  Start with measuring the child's head with the tape measure.  Measure length and width.  Show the child on the tape measure how large their head measured.  With the colored chalk, the child draws their head to scale.  Continue by  assisting the child in taking the measurements of their body parts (arms, legs, torso, hands, feet) and drawing themselves on the side walk to scale.  Once their body is drawn, color in face features, hair, and clothing.

The Match Game  (addition, multiplication, subtraction) Materials:  2 sets of flash cards Use addition, subtraction, or multiplication cards. (One set for the problems and one set for the answers).  You can make your own cards using index cards, which will allow you to account for your child’s development. Procedure:  Scatter the cards on the floor face down.  Take turns turning over the cards two at a time.  The player turns over one card for the problem and a second card for the answer.  If they match, the player keeps the pair. The player who has the most matches at the end of the game wins. Tip: In the beginning, you may want to allow your child to use manipulative to find the answer.  Use cards that your child will be able to solve quickly and gradually add the harder problems into the game.

Picture Math (addition) Materials:   construction paper, pictures (may use stickers or stamps), paste, marker, and dice Procedure:  Cut out pictures from magazines, coloring books, or other sources.  Roll the dice.  Paste the appropriate number of pictures on the paper.  Using a marker, write the number under the pictures, the addition sign, and equal sign.  Count the pictures and write the answer after the equal sign. Example:  If you roll a 2 and a 3; paste two pictures + paste three pictures = 5 Tip: Have your child cut out pictures from old magazines and newspapers and place in an envelope. When your child wants to do an art project or game just pull out the pre-cut pictures.

Scrambled Eggs (addition, subtraction, multiplication) Materials:  egg carton, 2 manipulative Procedure: Write numbers in the bottom of an egg carton with a marker.  Place 2 manipulative in the egg carton (use beans, pompom balls, paper clips or other small objects).  Shake the carton and then open. Add, subtract, or multiply the two numbers together that contain the manipulative depending on the skill you are working on.

Math Race (addition, multiplication, subtraction) Material:  deck of playing cards with the kings, queens, and jacks removed Procedure: Divide the cards evenly between player.  Each player turns over one card and the player who shouts the answer correctly first gets the pair.  If there is a tie, players turn over a second card and winner takes both pairs. Who ever has the most pairs wins. Tip: Remove the higher number cards for children who are not ready for very complicated problems.

 

Money Trade Materials:     1 dice, pennies, nickels, and dimes Procedure:   Each player takes turns rolling the dice.  The number on the dice denotes the number of pennies the player will receive.  The object of the game is to collect pennies and turn them into nickels and the nickels into dimes. Play to a set amount such as 50 cents or a dollar.

 

Cooking with Fractions To assist your child with learning the basic elements of fractions try making chocolate chip cookies (or some other recipe.) When measuring the ingredients, use 1/4, 1/2, and 1/3-cup measures to demonstrate how many of these you would need to make a whole.  An example: 1/4 +1/4 +1/4 +1/4 =1 or 1/4 +1/4 =1/2

 

Spill the Beans (fraction) Materials:  large bowl, dried beans, measuring cups, index cards, marker Procedure: On an index cards write fraction questions such as Use a 1/4 measuring cup to measure out 1/2 or use a 1/3 measuring cup to measure out 2/3.   Each player should have their own bow, but can share the measuring cups.  Each player takes turns drawing a card and performing the measure written on the card.  The player with the most beans in their bowl after all the cards is drawn wins. Tip: You can write simple fraction sentences for addition and subtraction on the cards starting with a common denominator and then progressing to more difficult sentences as your child improves. Don’t forget paper and pencil.

 
  
 

KayDee@KayDeesplace.com

 

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