"Math is like going to the gym for your brain. It sharpens your mind."
-Danica McKellar
When I was a kid, and as an adult, math has never been my thing. Apparently, future math performance is highly correlated with number sense. If you're interested in learning about number sense, and taking a free online assessment, try the website I discovered: panamath.org/index.php. Lets just say the results coincided with historical math assessments from my youth; however, I will now pat myself on the back for working hard, and earning grades I probably didn't deserve!
Fast forward to like the summer of 2007, when I was asked if I would like to teach Math Magicians in summer school. Ideally, it was suppose to be an enrichment class for students going into 3rd and 4th grade. I confidently, and very nonchalantly, said "Sure, no problem." Then I panicked. Not only did I totally suck at math, I found it boring, redundant, and too much writing. Oh, and to make matters worse, I would discover that the gender make up would be something like 85% boys and 15% girls (this disparity is an entirely different blog). For those of you who don't know, 9 and 10 year old boys do not want to sit in a desk and learn when it's 80 degrees and sunny. While it would take several summers to perfect, I got creative, and found a way to make math high energy and active. I'm sharing with you how to make any semi-athletic experience math oriented!
500
A person throws a ball in the air yelling (alive, catch in air) or (dead, rolls/bounces/throws the ball) while yelling a point value (1-500). Example: 200 & Alive
When the child gets the ball, he/she must answer a math question correctly (focus on any math facts, money, time, etc) and can only earn all of the points by answering the question
Scoring can be done on a piece of paper, where another child is responsible, or each individual can be responsible for tracking his/her score (cheating, unintentionally and intentionally, may happen this way)
Bozo's Buckets
Line up 3 or 4 "buckets" in a row. There are two ways to play this game: 1) Each child is asked to solve a math problem. If he/she answers correctly it is an automatic 10 points; however, he/she can toss the ball and earn additional points by landing in a bucket ranging from 10-100 extra points. 2) Create a competition in which two children are presented with a math problem, and the first to answer correctly gets 10 points and tosses the ball into the desired bucket earning points for his/her team.
Up/Down
This was a game developed out of desperation! When we were a couple minutes early waiting for parents, I played this outside. All you need are some kind of flashcards (math facts, money, time, etc.). We kept it simple, odd or even. The children stand in a line. I would hold up a math fact, and if the answer was odd, they would squat down, if it was even they would stand up. Whoever stood up, squatted, or didn't move last, was out. I then would ask the person who was out to tell me the answer. Last one standing or squatting, wins.
Math Basketball
This game is run identically to Bozo's Buckets, except there is only one bucket, and it is propped up on a table or higher surface. There are three different pieces of tape, and the further back you shoot, the more points earned. 1) Each child is asked to solve a math problem. If he/she answers correctly it is an automatic 10 points; however, he/she can shoot the ball and earn additional point. 2) Create a competition in which two children are presented with a math problem, and the first to answer correctly gets 10 points, then can shoot the ball from one of three lines.
High/Low
Easiest game around! Using a piece of paper, dry erase board, or chalkboard, make two columns. The column heading on the left should say "Low" and on the right "High". You can play this game 1-1,000,000 if the child/children have a good working knowledge of numbers. Otherwise, play 1-50 or 1-100. One person thinks of the number and the others guess. If the number is too big/high, it goes in the "High" column. If it's too small/low, it goes in the "Low" column. Children need to use the numbers presented to guide their guessing.
Math Baseball
The most challenging aspect of this game is drawing a baseball diamond. Put the children in teams, or pairs, or solo. They roll a dice, and each number corresponds to the potential hit (i.e. 1=single, 2=double, 3=triple, 4=out, 5=out, and 6=Home run). Math problems should increase in difficulty as the number gets higher. Be sure to use an erasable surface, or magnets, because it changes each inning. For the sake of time and patience, I would play with 1 out. Teams should be working to solve the problems regardless if it's their turn to bat, because they can change the inning if the other team doesn't know the answer, or answers incorrectly. It's kind of like an out.
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