Easy Activities for My Students to Put in My Class for Math Ideas
Having never been a fan of maths myself, I find it surprisingly easy to teach in the Early Years. That is because maths is all around us and we use it in our everyday language with our children without even realising we are doing it. Counting steps together as we climb the stairs, "One, Two, Three, Go!" to start a race, or lining up teddies and counting how many can fit on the bed. To give you a few more ideas, below are 10 easy maths activities to do at home with your children.
For each activity below, you will always be able to extend the activity if your child finds it easy, wants more of a challenge or are a bit older. Remember go with your child's interests and do things that you think they will ENJOY.
These activities are aimed at preschool age children but as mentioned, you can extend them for older children.
Easy maths activities to do at home:
1. Car park
We set this up just last week because I needed a maths activity that I could sit and do with the kids, but then be able to leave them to their play while I tidied the house.
All you will need is:
- Toy cars (Hot Wheels size work best)
- A long roll of paper
- Colouring pens
- Scissors
- Sellotape
To set up, simple draw a road on your piece of paper. I sellotaped it to the floor first. Add in parking spaces, each with it's own number. I used numbers 1-20 because I made this activity accessible for my two children with a three year age gap between them. (You will see further down how I adapted this activity for my six year old.)
Next job is to label each of the cars with corresponding numbers. This is where you can adapt depending on the age of your child. I numbered 1-10 for Phoebe who is three years old. For Charlie, who is six, I wrote out times table questions.
Your child then has to drive their car along the road and PARK it in the right numbered parking space.
2. Bake together
I openly admit that baking isn't my jam. (Get it? Jam?!) In normal circumstances I don't particularly enjoy baking. Eating? Yes. Baking? No. But throw kids into the mix, (I am on fire with these puns!), and it just raises stress levels and then you have to decide whether or not you are going to then brave eating the baked goods.
Despite this however, I know a lot of people do enjoy baking and this is a great way to sneak some maths learning into your day. It is pretty effortless if you are preparing to bake anyway.
Counting out quantities, weighing ingredients and just simply following instructions are all great ways to develop a child's mathematical skills.
3. Matching duplo
If your household is anything like ours, you will have a stack of Duplo that will be played with often and still remain in a good condition. We have had Duplo for years and it is still a favourite.
This maths activity should go down a storm if your children love Duplo as much as ours do!
The aim of the activity is to match a number of Duplo blocks with a number on a piece of card. The blocks can then be stacked to build a tower.
Can your child recognise the number on the piece of card?
How many blocks can they keep adding to build the tallest tower?
How many blocks do you have when adding or taking away one?
Which tower is the tallest?
Which tower is the smallest?
4. Play board games
Sounds simple enough right? Well it really is as easy as playing board games together. Recognising groups of numbers on the dice, counting your moves as you make your way around the board, for example.
As well as maths, this also brings in other social skills such as turn taking and sharing. Bonus!
Why not take it a step further and create your own board games?
Here is an example of a "snakes and ladders" game Charlie drew. This was because he LOVES playing this board game and so extended his own play by creating his own. Very easy and fun to make. It is also good fun to play a game you have created yourself.
5. Hide and seek numbers
This is a good way to take your learning outdoors. I actually found this idea on Instagram and tried it out with my two in the garden during lock down.
You will need:
- Outdoor chalks
- An outdoor space with a fence, paving or anything you can chalk on
Hide some numbers around the garden by writing them on fences, paving slabs or even outdoor furniture (this is at your discretion of course.) Then send your child out to hunt numbers.
Again, you are using a range of numbers that you know your child will be comfortable knowing. Once they can confidently recognise those numbers, for example 1-5, only then move on to the next set.
Can they find the numbers in order?
6. Make a stick man family
This activity focuses on the idea of size, which is an area of learning covered by mathematics.
Go for a walk, or look in your garden, (when it is safe to do so of course, I am writing this post in May 2020 during lockdown), for a collection of sticks.
Children LOVE sticks don't they?
Try and look for a collection of sticks that are going to range in size: big to small etc. Line your stick collection up and get your child to decide which stick will be "stick man". Why did they choose that one?
Then choose a "stick lady" and "stick children". Maybe you can base this on members of your child's family. Remember to keep talking about the sizes of the sticks and comparing them.
Turn your stick collection into a stick family by adding googly eyes, pipe cleaners for a scarf etc.
Another of our easy maths activities to do at home which is a favourite in our household.
7. Tombola
For this fun activity you will need:
- A selection of small toys or objects
- Scissors
- Pen
- Paper
Again, decide what numbers you are wanting to work on with your child. We used numbers 1-9.
I wrote the numbers on small pieces of paper cut into squares. Fold the pieces of paper (similar to what you would find at a tombola), and put into a container, bag, hat etc.
Line the toys up and ask your child to select a piece of paper and read out the hidden number. Can they count along the line of toys to find the corresponding number? Which prize did they get?!
Remember lots of praise and excitement!
8. Shops
This is a good activity for you to set up and then let your child carry on their play. Use a table to display a selection of toys or household items. If you have a toy till you can also use this or anything else that you think will enhance your child's play.
Write out prices to stick onto the items in the shop. Take it in turns being a shop keeper and your child is the customer. After a while swap over. This is also a good game for siblings to play.
Can your child recognise any of the familiar numbers on the price tickets?
Can older children add up the total of the shopping basket?
9. Teddy Bears picnic
Any type of role play can easily incorporate maths. I couldn't write a post on easy maths activities to do at home and not include one involving role play!
Ask your child to gather a number of favourite teddy bears. You can set a number you would like them to bring if you think they have a lot of favourites! Get your child to line them up, counting as they go. Let them make mistakes but don't interrupt their counting until they are finished. Go back and count with them.
Each teddy bear needs a plate and a cup. Can your child pair these up?
How will your child share the food among the teddy bears to make sure they all get the same amount of food?
If you have one of those cakes that split into four, can they share it out to four teddy bears?
10. Playdough numbers
If you have playdough at home, this is a good activity to sneak in some number play. Learning to form the numbers can be tricky but I think using something they enjoy playing with, like playdough, makes it more fun and engaging.
Can your child make a number one?
If they struggle, you make a number for them to copy. This can also be used for forming the phonic sounds and practising recognising their names. It uses fine motor skills too which is all good practise for that all important pencil grip later on.
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If you enjoyed reading about easy maths activities to do at home, you might also enjoy Home Activities for children during covid-19 and 15 things to do in your garden during lockdown.
Source: https://northumberlandfamilydiaries.com/10-easy-maths-activities-to-do-at-home/
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