TRIANGLE DESIGNS

Mathematics is a creative and visual subject. Today’s activities give space for our children to exercise the visual part of their brain. It encourages them to be visual and make connections between decomposing larger shapes into smaller shapes or composing smaller shapes to make larger shapes. ********************* TRIANGLE DESIGNS This activity makes space for the whole… Read More

HAVE A GO…Trial and Improvement

These challenges offer our children the opportunity to develop their own problem solving strategies.  The power of trial and improvement will undoubtedly be used to arrive at solutions. ******************************** THREE BY THREE Age 5 to 11 Challenge Level Arrange three red, three blue and three yellow counters into a three-by-three square grid, so that there is… Read More

GUESS MY RULE

Venn diagrams allow children to sort data into two or three circles which overlap in the middle.   Guess My Rule gives our children the opportunity to explain their thinking and justify their reasoning. *************************************** GUESS MY RULE   1.  Some shapes belong in the circle, and some shapes do not. There is a rule to decide… Read More

ALL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

These activities focus on finding all possible solutions while having a bit of fun.  Support your children to work in a systematic way.   Your youngest ones will enjoy working together as they attempt to discover all the possibilities. ************************ BUILD A ROBOT Robots Parts to Cut Out *********************************** INSIDE TRIANGLES Age 5 to 7 Challenge Level… Read More

DIGGING DEEPER

Use today’s activities to introduce your children to problems that can have more than one solution.  Additionally, they will have the opportunity to explore different ways of recording their thinking and different methods of solving problems. ******************************      LOTS OF LOLLIPOPS Tim and Patty were given a bag of lollipops They shared them out evenly… Read More

13 WAYS TO EAT A FLY

The title of this book is just too irresistible!  Thirteen flies become tasty snacks in this clever reverse counting book about subtraction, predators, and prey.   A swarm of thirteen flies buzzes along, losing one member to each predator along the way. Whether the unfortunate insects are zapped or wrapped, liquefied or zombified, the science is real–and… Read More

THINKING CREATIVELY

Our young children are learning to think creatively when they have opportunities to solve problems.  Good thinkers are resourceful and reflective.  They look back on what they have accomplished in order to learn from both successes and failures.   NUMBER DETECTIVE Age 5 to 11 Challenge Level Calling all detectives! You will need to think creatively,… Read More

USING COUNTERS TO MODEL THINKING

Counters are a great resource that can be used in mathematics.  There are number of ways to utilize them including showing patterns,  modeling thinking or keeping track of moves.   Support your children’s use of counters with the activities. *************************** COOKIE DECORATIONS Age 5 to 7 Challenge Level Andrew decorated 20 cookies to take to a party. He… Read More

COUNT ON ME

The focus of these activities is not on counting but on instantly recognizing combinations to five. These activities are a combination of recognizing and just knowing groupings to five, which will strengthen our young children’s base for continued mathematical development.   ******************************   BLAST OFF!   A Game for 2 Young Players 1.  Players are dealt 5 cards… Read More

PLAYING WITH NUMBERS

Through playing with numbers, these activities will support our young children with the development of their sense of addition. ****************************   FAIR EXCHANGE Age 5 to 7  In your bank, you have three types of coins. The number of spots shows how much they are worth. Can you choose coins to exchange with the groups below… Read More