The Little Things

Most of what we do when it comes to learning math is not blog material. Not every task contains an 'ah-ha!' moment; not every activity is new or surprising. This post lays out some of the little things we do to support mathematical thinking and learning, and some things that we don't do yet, but are in the works.

On an accessible shelf is a box of math tools that we can easily grab any time something comes up. When we are reading about something that makes us wonder about a calculation or a comparison, when a discussion leads us down a path of numbers, when we are inspired to measure something, we reach for the box, which contains

- a ruler
- a tape measure
- an abacus
- counters of three different sizes
- integer beans
- a geoboard
- cuisinaire rods (which admittedly, we haven't used since the novelty wore off)
- assorted dice
- fractions kit
- a timer

I would also like to add a set of volume measuring graduated cylinder-type things, a protractor, and a flat, frameless mirror. In addition, basic tools we have around the house include chart paper and an old analog clock. Eventually, when they are less likely to be scattered all over the floor, I will bring out unifix cubes.  

So what can we do with (and without) these tools? How about...

...letting your child choose a shape for his sandwiches to be cut into? (Geometry -- My son likes to ask for odd shapes like trapezoids and octagons)

...asking your child whether she wants a sixth of a pizza or an eighth? (Comparing fractions)

...using your fist to measure time of day? (Introduction to radial measurement)

...using everyday objects to imagine the size of large or small objects? (Measurement, estimation, mathematical imagination -- My husband happens to be two metres tall and I happen to be five feet. Did you know there is a carnivorous plant in the Amazon that is as big as ten 'Daddies'? That's the length of our house!)

...giving your child an allowance? (Money math)

...making a daily bar graph of your child's allowance on chart paper? (Graphing)

...using a mirror to test lines of symmetry? (Geometry)

...constructing Platonic solids? (Geometry)

...playing 'bakery' with your fractions kit? (Fractions)

...making Swamp Water (Fractions, estimation)

...modeling grouping counters into regular patterns (Skip counting, multiplication)

...giving your child a bunch of crackers (or whatever) and asking them to divide it equally amongst your family? (Division)

...reading books by Greg Tang? (Grouping, counting, addition/subtraction, multiplication, number manipulation)

...playing games involving two or more dice? (Adding, others if you have special dice)

...playing Monopoly? (Adding, money math, subtraction)

...playing logic puzzle games? We like Rush Hour (board game) and Cogs (video game).   (Logic, problem solving)

..playing games that involve pattern recognition, like Checkers, Othello, and Go. (Pattern recognition, logic)

...trying to solve "remove the ring"-type puzzles? (Geometry)

...playing Battleship? (Introduction to coordinate geometry)

...trying to guess which container holds more? (Geometry: volume)

...letting your child keep a calendar? (Time, pattern recognition)

...taping out a number line that your child (and you!) can jump along? (Number line, addition/subtraction, multiplication, integers, fractions)

...baking with your child? (Fractions, measurement, precision or estimation -- depending how you bake!, multiplication if you double or triple recipes, division if you halve them)

...playing Cups & Beans? (Integers: counting, addition)

...cutting snowflakes? (Geometry: symmetry)

...checking the thermometer on a regular basis? (Number line, measurement)

...graphing the daily temperature with a line graph? (Graphing)

...using chart paper to record a table of addition, subtraction, or multiplication facts? (Visual organization, pattern recognition)

There are probably other things that we do, but these are the ones that come to mind and have come up often over the past year or so.  I didn't realize we did so much geometry.  I should report some of that...