Fun Maths to do at home?

[4littleones]

I Have 2 girls, one going into year 1 and one going into year 2. Although to be honest they are at similar levels as DD2 is very advanced where as DD1 is average level/slightly behind.

I want to do some fun maths over the holidays and to continue it after they go back to school. I have always done lots of literacy with them in the way of daily reading and writing etc but I hate math (which obviously I don't want the girls to see!) And it seems to take a backseat which I know is wrong and I need to sort it out and start doing more with them.

Just looking for some ideas? Going to get some dice so that when we do things like snakes and ladders etc we can use 2 dice instead of 1 and then they need to add it up etc. I printed some maths worksheets but to be honest they never want to do them. We have also been learning the 2 x times tables which they have almost got now so will move on to the next one soon.

Would be grateful of other ideas.

Shape walk
Number walk - similar ideas go round your town/villiage aned point out shapes and or numbers - could record with photos
Number plate game - add up numbers on number plates
cooking is always a good one for reading numbers / heavier and lighter
number bonds to 10 is a good one to practise (numbers that add up to 10 eg 2 +8 / 8+2 etc).. could make them with smarties
Symmetry = paint butterflies or use stickers or go on a walk collect things and then use them to make a picture

Don't just teach them their times tables in isolation as a string of facts - make and photograph arrays to go with each one. Do they understand that 3x2 is 2, 3 times ie 2+2+2? Get, say, clothes pegs and arranged them as three groups of two. Then choose something else (Lego bricks, sultanas, teaspoons - anything) and arrange them as four groups of two. Repeat until you've done all the facts. Take photos (or draw pictures) and put them on a wall/radiator/fridge/staircase with the relevant fact underneath.

10 then 5 times tables come next. Make sure they can count in tens or fives backwards and forwards fluently before starting on the multiplication facts. Count your toes or fingers (ie in 5s). Use money - try dropping 10p coins into a mug and counting on in 10 each time you hear it drop. Then make your arrays as described above. You could have a lot of fun with foot or hand prints!

The key is making it practical and visual. Have you got a 100square on the wall/fridge? Lots and lots you can do with that - let me know if you want more ideas.

Thank you. Yes they know that 3x3 is the same as 3+3+3 although they do forget it and I have to keep reminding them. We mainly do this verbally though in the car or when we are walking. I have an 18 month old and a 4 week old too so often getting it done properly can be hard, especially on days where they don't nap at the same time. Toddler is very into putting little bits in his mouth and also wants to "join in" with everything (usually just wanting to throw everything on the floor).

Good point about counting in 10s etc. We will definitely practice that.

We have a huge number square poster which often comes in handy.

Realistically, if I just had the 2 DDs then we would be able to do loads more but it's so hard fitting it in with the 2 babies too - and then I feel awful for not making enough time for it.

DD1 also struggles to get her numbers the correct way round. Her teachers made some suggestions for practising in sand etc, which we will do but really I think she will find it quite babyish and boring. But I could be wrong.

Write numbers in sand / glitter / rice or make rainbow numbers (use lots of different colours to go over and over the number) / make them in playdough

If you have a tablet, there are loads of fun apps available- my DD1 is going into Y2 and enjoys the squeebles maths app, addimals, king of maths junior, dot to dot maths. Most have a free version so you can try them out.

Also on the internet- try arcademic skills builders, BBC schools. The nrich site has a lot of open ended maths puzzles and investigations that you could try together.

Thank you

themathsfactor.com - my three LOVE it!
It's Carol Vorderman's site and I really recommend it.

Retired TA here. This is my standard information re numeracy:

?QUOTE:

Practical things are best for grasping number concepts - bricks, Lego, beads, counters, money, shapes, weights, measuring, cooking.

Do adding, taking away, multiplication (repeated addition), division (sharing), using REAL OBJECTS as just 'numbers' can be too abstract for some children.

Number Bonds of Ten forms the basis of much maths work, so try to learn them. Using Lego or something similar, use a LOT of bricks (of just TWO colours, if you have enough) lay them out so the pattern can be seen of one colour INCREASING while the other colour DECREASES. Lay them down, or build up like steps.

So:

ten of one colour none of other
nine of one colour one of other
eight of one colour two of other
seven of one colour three of other

etc, etc

then of course, the sides are equal at 5 and 5; after which the colours 'swap over' as to increasing/decreasing.

To learn TABLES, do them in groups that have a relationship, thus:

x2, x4, x8

x3, x6, x12

5 and 10 are easy

7 and 9 are rather harder.

Starting with TWO times TABLE, I always say: "Imagine the class is lining up in pairs; each child will have a partner, if there is an EVEN number in the class. If one child is left without a partner, then the number is ODD, because an odd one is left out."

Use Lego bricks again, lay them out in a column of 2 wide to learn 2x table. Go half way down the column, and move half the bricks up, so that now the column is 4 bricks wide. That gives the start of 4x table.

Then do similar things with 3x and 6x.

With 5x, try and count in 'fives', and notice the relationship with 'ten' - they will alternate, ending in 5 then 10.

It is important to try and UNDERSTAND the relationships between numbers, and not just learn them 'by rote'.

I am sorry it seems complicated trying to explain these concepts, but using Lego or counters should make understanding easier.

An inexpensive solar powered calculator (no battery to run out!) can help learn tables by 'repeated addition'. So: enter 2+2 and press = to give 4. KEEP PRESSING = and it should add on 2 each time, giving 2 times table.

There are good web sites, which can be fun to use :

www.ictgames.com/

www.resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/index.html

UNQUOTE

Also: try Data Collection, tallying results and producing charts and graphs. Any topic they like can be counted, recorded and graphs produced: animals; birds; shops; traffic. Or they can 'interview' people to ask their favourite food; band; colour; TV show; animal, etc.

Recording the weather can include data collection and science; again, record and log in an accurate way.

If you travel, go on holiday etc, log distances, places, and draw maps to represent route and journey.

Lego is good for improving maths skills

homeschoolencouragement.com/free-lego-printables-upper-elementary/

If children understand how a number ie. 23 is made up of 2 tens and three ones they will be less likely to get mixed up.

Making bracelets with ten beads is a good visual way of learning number bonds.

littlemindsatwork.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/common-core-number-bracelets-freebie.html

Expand your collection of board games. Sum Swamp is quite good. If you fancy a challenge, how about monopoly? DS (also going into y1 and quite mathsy) is loving it at the moment, though he does need DH's advice on tactics to keep it interesting. The notes range from £1 to 500, not into the thousands, and where you get big numbers they tend to be round ones so it's more manageable than you'd think. And all the change giving is good practice. Difficult with a toddler around though.

Baking, let them measure in grammes and ml. Give them £2 to spend in a newsagent with pocket money toys. Give them 20p to spend on pick and mix sweets. At the supermarket, give them each a list of a few items. Get them to guess which is cheapest and most expensive, then get them to pick out their items, write down the price, and compare with their estimates. See who had the more expensive list, talk about why.

Also use contents pages and page numbers in your reading. How many pages until page 12 etc. Most of these aren't my ideas btw, they all come from DS who has been obsessed with numbers since before he learned to talk! Btw on the counting in steps, DS mastered 2 first, then 10, 5, 3, 4. He adores the Usborne times table lift the flap book, but that might say more about him than the book!:)

Orchard Toys have some good games with maths in - Bus Stop, Pop to the Shops, Spotty Dogs (counting up the score at the end).
Stun requires keeping score up to 15.
Quirkle is about patterns and logic.
Blokus is shapes (and strategy when they're bigger)
Shut the Box is number bonds
Give them pocket money in small coins and count it together - counting in 2s, 5s, 10s etc
Buy a couple of 10 sided dice - practice addition, subtraction and later multiplication

Thank you for all the fab ideas!

I work on Maths with my DD going into Year 3; mum deals with English. :)

In addition to the other excellent ideas...

Work maths into the weekly shop, make her figure out how much money is need to buy 3 cupcakes at 30p each, etc. If the store numbers are complex, simplify. Make her give the money and ask what change she gets back.

Do occasional worksheets, but you do it too. My DD loves it when I get answers wrong, so I pretend to make mistakes. She did additions well and was uncomfortable with subtractions, so I said "you do additions and I will do subtractions. Then we will correct each others work." She still doesn't realise that her checking my subtraction work was her doing subtractions. :)

Black-eyed peas. Yes, these were great for explaining division into groups and multiplications.

Measuring while cooking together, another great place to learn.

And lastly, Khan Academy videos. Wonderful teaching resource, which kid doesn't like videos and collecting points.

My 5 year old seems to be getting it, 6 year old not so much

Yes to all of the above. I am a TA and these are the areas that I would also focus on, as and when your children are ready.

Telling the time, Analogue and digital.
Place value - units, tens, hundreds...
2D and 3D shapes.
Using and understanding money.
Simple fractions - halves and quarters.
Days, weeks, months of the year.

Although it is unfashionable, learning the time tables by rote is very effective.

Incidentally, I was surprised recently how many 8 year olds couldn't recite the alphabet without stumbling. LMNOP was all one letter apparently!

And if possible teach your child to tie their own shoelaces :)

Forgot to mention odds and evens! Very important!

mumster79 Just seen the prices for using that website

I agree that many maths games are ££. Also not necessary IMHO. Use the clock in your kitchen, the coins in your purse and the calendar on the wall. Shapes are everywhere too!

It was about £150 a year girldbrigade . We are subscribed to Phonicsplay for litracy but that's about £11 a year and is great!

What about cooking and baking.