Category — Math Activities

Sorting is a great activity to get kids thinking about data, attributes and patterns and how things can be organized in different ways. These are skills they need for math.

1. Collect many different kinds of things to sort (buttons, rocks, shells money, lids, beans, small toys, etc.).
2. Download the “How Many Ways to Sort” and “Sorting Mat”.
3. Use the Sorting Mat to sort the items into categories. There will be many different ways to sort the items. You can sort by shape, size, color, etc.
4. Write down all the different things you sorted and the way you sorted them on the How Many Ways to Sort sheet. See how many different ways you can sort the items. This activity also reinforces writing skills.

Download All Sorts of Sorts

Fun math game for ages 4-10 years.

STEP 1 Print out the 20 Frame Game sheet with number cubes.

STEP 2 Cut out the number cubes and use clear tape to assemble.

STEP 3 Each player will need 1 Twenty Frame Game pattern and beans to be used as markers.

STEP 4 Have fun playing the game as follows:

1. Player # 1 shakes both number cubes and add the numbers together.
2. Place the total number of beans on the 20 frame (be sure to add the beans beginning on the top row from left to right then go to the second row adding on beans left to right).
3. Player #2 does the same.
4. The player with the greatest value wins the round. Decide ahead of time how many rounds you will play to determine the winner.

Variations:
Subtraction –Shake both number cubes. Cover the 20 frame with beans representing the number with the greatest value. Subtract the beans that represent the number with the least value. The player with the lowest value wins the round.

Addition and Subtraction – Shake both number cubes and add the numbers together. Place that number of beans on the 20 frame. Shake 1 number cube and subtract that amount. The player with the least value wins the round.

Download Lady Bug Pattern
This is a fun way for kids to practice math facts. Print out copies of the lady bugs for each math problem you want to create. Cut out the main body and the wings. Attach with a brad where indicated with a circle. On the wings write a math problem such as 5 x 7 or 12 + 3. Write the answer on the body. When the wings are together your child solves the problem. To check to see if the answer is correct, separate the wings.

If you enjoy gardening, invite your grandchildren to help plant your garden. This can be a great time to talk and you can use the ideas below to make it a fun learning time for math, reading and writing.

Gardening Learning Activities
Measure how far apart to plant the seeds.
Measure the perimeter of the garden.
Count how many rows will be needed.
Estimate how tall specific plants will grow.
Make a list of everything needed to plant and care for the garden.
Read the instructions for planting.
Read the instructions for caring for what is planted.
Design a marker for each thing planted.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo by making tacos. Have your grandchildren use measuring cups and spoons to create their tacos. This will help them learn an important math skill.

For each taco you’ll need:
1 hard taco shell
1/8 C of cooked chicken or ground beef
1/8 C of grated cheese
1/2 C of chopped lettuce
1/2 Tbsp of sour cream
1/2 Tbsp of salsa.

Facts about Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo means “fifth of May” in Spanish. It’s an important day in Mexico and is celebrated each year with a fiesta. The story of Cinco de Mayo began over 100 years ago with a young orphan boy, Benito Juarez who grew up, studied law and became a governor. He eventually was elected president of Mexico. Juarez wanted to make Mexico a better country, so he helped write the constitution and worked to make reforms. The common people of Mexico loved him but the large landowners resented him and asked France to come help oust Juarez. The French planned to capture Mexico City on May 5, 1862 but the untrained Mexican army won a temporary victory over the professional French army. Eventually the French drove Juarez out of Mexico, but the United States stepped in and pressured France to leave. The French withdrew and Juarez returned. This is a day important for all of North America because the United States helped drive a foreign power from North American soil, and no foreign power has invaded since.

You probably never thought something as fun and easy as making a placemat would also develop important skills. This activity, great for any celebration, helps children with small muscle coordination and patterning which is an important math skill.
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In celebration of Earth Day make these beads from paper you would normally throw away or recycle.
Materials:
A variety of paper (magazines, comics, wrapping paper, etc.)
Scissors,
Glue,
Pencil
Yarn
Directions:
1. Cut strips of paper measuring about 4 inches long. The width may vary from 1/2 – 1 inch depending on the size of bead you want.
2. Wrap the strip of paper snug around a pencil.
3. Glue the end of the bead.
4. Slide the bead off the pencil.
5. Make enough beads for a necklace or bracelet and string them with yarn.

The math connection is stringing the beads in a pattern using color, size or both.

Download Conversation Hearts Activity Graph

This is a fun activity to do with any colored candy but especially fun at Valentine’s to do with Conversation Hearts.
What you will need for each person:
A graphing sheet
Conversation Hearts
Before you begin estimate how many Conversation Hearts you have then check to see how close you were to the exact number.
1. Classify the hearts by color
2. Cut out the squares on the graphing sheet.
3. Color a square for each heart. If you have 8 pink hearts you color 8 squares pink.
4. Create a bar graph by placing all the squares with the same color together as shown in the photo.
5. Talk about the graph. Ask questions like; which color has the greatest or least squares? Are there any the same? How many more or less does one color have compared to another color? What is another way to classify the hearts.

During the winter months many birds benefit from fat in their diet so why not make a suet bell or suet pine cone bird feeder with your grandchildren.
You will need:
Fat (lard or drippings from a roast or bacon ). If you don’t have enough fat you can add unsalted peanut butter.
Filler (bird seed, dried fruit, cookie or cake crumbs).
For each ½ pound of fat you will need 1 pound of filler.
Paper cup
String
Make a small hole in the bottom of the paper cup and insert the string. Be sure it is long enough so you can hang the bell on a tree branch. Tie a not on the inside of the cup so the string won’t pull through. Leave some string hanging inside the paper cup.
Melt the fat in a heavy saucepan and add filler. Mix well. Let the mixture cool slightly then pour into paper cut. When the mixture has hardened tear off the paper cup. Hang on a branch and see what birds come.

There are lots of activities to do once the suet bell is hung.
1. Predict and count how many birds will come in 10 minutes.
2. Predict and count how many different birds will come.
3. Take a picture of a bird eating the suet bell and write a poem or a story.
4. When your grandchildren leave, keep an eye on the suet bell and call or write them about what you’ve noticed. How long until it was all eaten.
5. Make 2 bells, one to keep at your home and one for your grandchild to take home. They can call or write you about what they have noticed.
For a pine cone bird feeder, I used the same mixture and spread it all around the pine cone. Hang with string or wire.

More Bird Feeder Ideas

With football season in full swing, here’s a fun activity for the WHOLE FAMILY.

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