Summer Math Activities

Number Concepts • When setting the table for dinner at home, count a group of 1–9 objects, such as forks, spoons, dishes, or

napkins. Then say the number aloud, and trace it in the air. • Have a neighborhood number hunt. Look for 5 (or another number 1–9). Find 5 of some object (e.g.,

bicycles, dogs, sidewalk squares) or a written number 5 (e.g., house or street numbers). Say the number aloud each time you find it.

Touching/Counting Patterns • Draw large numerals in the sand and place rocks, shells, flowers or other objects you’ve collected, on

the TouchPoints in the correct order. • Draw a large numeral on a piece of paper, such as a 7. Give your child grapes to place on the

TouchPoints of the 7. If you give the child more than 7 grapes, you can see if she can stop at 7 when she’s placing the grapes to check for number concept comprehension.

Addition • Integrate fun into addition practice through games. For example, say silly things for your child to do

such as, “Take two little steps backward and three big steps forward.” Then ask your child to tell how many steps were taken in all.

• In order to add single-digit numbers, you need to link the number (how many) with the numeral (the symbols in the number sentence). Provide your child with heavy paper and dried beans. Ask him to draw two large rectangles on the paper with a black crayon. Give him an addition problem (such as 3 + 2) and have him place that number of beans in the rectangles to represent the addends. Ask him to write the addition number sentence above the rectangles. Next have him move the beans from the rectangles to the correct TouchPoint patterns on the numerals he wrote as he counts aloud. Then have him write the answer.

• Missing addend problems with sums to 9. Write a problem, at least 3 inches tall, on a piece of paper. For the problem 2 + __ = 5, have your child place 5 beans in the correct TouchPoint pattern on the 5. Then have her move the last two beans from the 5 to the TouchPoints on the 2. Then have her count how many beans are left on the 5. This will give her the answer (3).

• Help your child see that addition is useful in everyday life by sharing stories about things you do during the day. For example, you might tell your child that it takes you 20 minutes to get dressed in the morning and 15 minutes to eat breakfast. Ask him how much total time it takes you to get ready. Then ask him to share a story of his own.

Subtraction • Draw a large numeral on a piece of paper, such as a 5. Give your child grapes to place on the

TouchPoints of the 5. Tell her you want to know how many 5 minus (or take away) 3 is. Have her take away 3 of the grapes — which she can eat as she takes them away. Then have her count how many grapes are left on the 5 (2). That’s the answer to 5 – 3.

• As you set or clear the table, say a subtraction sentence about something taken away from the table (e.g., I put eight plates on the table. I take away three plates. How many plates are left on the table?)

• Play a subtraction riddle game using subtraction clues to guess the number. For example, “My number is 2 less than 9. What is my number?” Take turns with your child making up and answering the riddles.

• Make a list of the ages of several family members. Choose two family members, and have your child find the difference in their ages.

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Subtraction (continued) • Have your child roll three dice and record the results as a 3-digit number. Roll the dice again to arrive at

a second 3-digit number. Determine which number is greater, write and solve a subtraction problem using the two numbers.

• Play Guess My Number. Think of a riddle that uses place value and subtraction to solve. For example, “I am a number between 30 and 40. My nearest 10 is 30. You can subtract 1 or 2 from me without regrouping. I am not an even number. Guess what number I am.” (33)

• Have your child write and illustrate a subtraction story. Start by giving a 3-digit number (e.g., Larry has 154 sports cards to paste in his album.). Ask your child to add on to the story by providing another 3-digit number (e.g., Larry gives 54 cards to a friend.). Work together to write the question and then solve it, drawing a picture to illustrate the problem.

Geometry • When you fix your child lunch, include different shaped items and have them tell you the shapes. For

example, a sandwich may have square bread, circle bologna, or square cheese. If you cut the sandwich diagonally you can make it into triangle shapes. Potato chips, olives or grapes are oval shaped. Cherries are spheres. Crackers come in many other shapes. Food cans are cylinders. Pizza slices are triangles.

• Take a walk with your child and look for shapes in the neighborhood or have your child point out different shapes they see at the grocery store.

Money • Talk with your child about using multiple addends in everyday life. Point out the purchasing of several

items at the grocery store. Show that the price of each item is added to find the total amount of the items. (You might also discuss tax that is included, depending on the interest and level of your child.)

• When planning a trip to the grocery store, have your child write the coupon amounts on a piece of paper to see how much money you will save using the coupons. Have them write the amounts in a column. Younger children may just write the cents amounts, and older children may use the decimal points when writing the coupon amounts. If necessary, draw TouchPoints on the numbers for your child to use for adding. Have your child add the amounts to find out how much money you will be saving.

• Use estimation when shopping to guess what the final bill will be.

Multiplication • To demonstrate multiplication, give your child an egg carton and some small objects (e.g., pennies,

beads, buttons, paperclips, or raw macaroni). Say and write a multiplication problem (e.g., 3 x 4), and have them display this problem using different sections of the egg carton to hold each group. For this problem, they would put 4 objects in each of 3 compartments, 3 groups of 4, or 3 x 4.

Measurement • Temperature: Teach your child temperature measurement as well as practice adding and subtracting

with it. For example, help your child find the high and low temperatures for the day and calculate the difference to determine the temperature fluctuation.

• Map Reading: Have your child plan a trip. Give them the necessary maps and have them plan the route and add up how many miles you will travel. You may also have them plan two or three different ways to get to the destination and calculate the difference in distance.

• Cooking: Choose a simple recipe for your child to help make. Have them measure all the ingredients and follow the recipe.

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Summer Math Reading List Book Author

Button Box, The Reid, Margarette What's Next, Nina? Sue Kassirer A Collection for Kate Derubertis, Barbara Chickens on the Move Pollack, Pamela Lights Out! Penner, Lucille Recht Long Wait, The Cobb, Annie It's About Time, Max Richards, Kitty Tightwad Tod Skinner, Daphne Bad Luck Brad Herman, Gail Too Tall Tina Pitino, Donna Marie Play Date Santos, Rosario Super Specs Driscoll, Laura 100-Pound Problem, The Dussling, Jennifer Blask Off Kid, The Driscoll, Laura Sam's Sneaker Squares Gabriel, Nat Fair is Fair! Dussling, Jennifer Count on Pablo Derubertis, Barbara Where's Harley? Felton, Carol Henry Keeps Score Skinner, Daphne Kitten Castle Friedman, Mel Carrie Measures Up Aber, Linda Williams Stacks of Trouble Brenner, Martha Math Fair Blues Kassirer, Sue Deena's Lucky Penny Derubertis, Barbara Clean Sweep Campers Penner, Lucille Recht Keep Your Distance Herman, Gail Everybody Wins Bruce, Sheila Who's Got Spots Aber, Linda Williams Slowpoke Penner, Lucille Recht Where's That Bone? Penner, Lucille Recht All Aboard! Skinner, Daphne A House for Birdie Murphy, Stuart J. More or Less Murphy, Stuart J. Same Old Horse Murphy, Stuart J. Weight Pluckrose, Henry Arthur What Comes in 2's, 3's & 4's? Aker, Suzanne A Pair of Socks Murphy, Stuart J. What Time is It? A Book of Math Riddles Keenan, Sheila Capacity Pluckrose, Henry Arthur Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes Murphy, Stuart J. Monster Musical Chairs Murphy, Stuart J. Even Steven and Odd Todd Cristaldi, Kathryn Beep Beep, Vroom Vroom! Murphy, Stuart J. When a Line Bends . . . A Shape Begins Greene, Rhonda Gowler Cubes, Cones, Cylinders, & Spheres Hoban, Tana 3 Little Firefighters Murphy, Stuart J. Shapes, Shapes, Shapes Hoban, Tana Tally O'Malley Murphy, Stuart J. Giraffe Graphs Stewart, Melissa Measuring Penny Leedy, Loreen Twelve Snails to One Lizard: A Tale of Mischief and Measurement Hightower, Susan All Through the Week With Cat and Dog Williams, Rozanne Lanczak Clocks and More Clocks Hutchins, Pat The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar Fractions Book Pallotta, Jerry

 

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