(This post contains affiliate links and links to my business website, Shining Dawn Books.) Math is so much fun and means so much more to little ones when it concretely builds understanding. So many times, we skip over "the tough stuff" because we think our little people can't handle it. Below are a few activities I have done with my five-year-old to begin building two of those "tough" concepts - division and logic. Division: The Doorbell Rang Here's very simple, engaging early math activity for understanding fair shares and beginning division concepts using The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins. Gather a pile of 12 "friends". These could be bear counters (like we've used), stuffed ... Read More
Yummy Shapes
Target Age Range: PK-1st Skills Covered: shape names, cutting, fine motor, baking, creativity This living math lesson for little people is simple and motivating. Who doesn't want a cookie break in the middle of the school day?? 1. Make your favorite sugar cookie dough recipe first and refrigerate it. For a real living math lesson, I strongly encourage you to actually make the dough from scratch with your child! 2. Draw outlines of shapes onto card stock. 3. Either mom or the capable child can cut out each shape. 4. Roll out the cookie dough and place the card stock shapes on top of the dough. 5. Using a butter knife, your child should cut around the shape templates ... Read More
Popcorn Math Activity
(This post contains affiliate links and links to my business website, Shining Dawn Books.) Target Age Range: 3rd-8th Skills Covered: estimation, capacity measurements, multiplication, calculator, collecting data, making comparisons, cooking Food motivates my children and I suspect it might motivate your children, too! It just happens to be a bonus that this food inspired lesson is healthy - so there's no guilt indulging in the middle of your school day. Enjoy popcorn math today! 1. Your child should pour 1/2 cup of un-popped popcorn kernels in a see-through measuring glass. 2. Estimate the number of kernels in the glass and note this on a simple chart that your child can ... Read More