Math activities -Math is a tool
Here are some math activities that teach children that math is a tool to help us solve problems quickly and efficiently.
For
example: A builder uses math to measure and cut wood to the right
length. Without math the builder would have to cut a little off the
wood and try it to see if it fit. He would have to repeat the process
until he got the right size. If the builder cut the wood too small he
would have to buy more wood and try again. The guess and check method
isn’t quick or efficient. It wastes a lot of time and money.
The difference between these two forts is MATH
Another math activity example I’ve used with children is setting the table.
Hungry children don’t want to sit and wait for dinner while I guess at how many plates to set. They are especially unhappy if I tell them I don’t think we have enough plates in the house so we have to go to the store and buy more. Try it:
- Get one plate and some cookies.
- Tell the children it is time for snack and have them sit at the table. You sit too.
- Put a cookie on one plate.
- One of the children will ask for a cookie too.
- Tell the children that they can’t have a cookie unless they have a plate, so we’d better figure out how many plates we need.
- Now put 20 or 30 plates on the table.
- Decide that is too many plates.
- Keep taking away and adding plates until one of the children suggests you count. (You may need to prompt with questions such as “How can we figure this out faster?”)
- Tell the children Math is a tool to help us solve problems.
