Math fun at home

FAMILIES

• • Count how many people are in your family.

  • Draw a picture of your family.

  • Talk about the position of family members; i.e., beside, between, in front, etc.

  • Clap a pattern for your family to copy.

  • Talk about how members of your family are alike and different.

  • Count and clap from one to ten.

DINNER

• • Count how many plates, spoons, napkins, etc. you will need to set the table.

  • At dinner talk about where your family members sit.

  • For example, who sits beside, across from or to the left of you.

  • Use silverware to create patterns. For example, spoon, fork, spoon fork...

  • Sort silverware.

  • Count and stomp from one to ten.

IN YOUR YARD

• • Count the trees in your yard.

  • Talk about which objects are in front of, beside, behind, above and below your house.

  • Do a moving pattern across your yard. For example, jump, step, step, jump, step, step...

  • Talk about how your yard is alike and different from your neighbor’s yard(s).

  • Identify right and left hand.

LAUNDRY

• • Help sort the laundry into piles and then count the piles.

  • Play with laundry basket. Get in it. Put it over you. Sit beside it. Get under it, etc.

  • Create a pattern with laundry. For example, blue sock, green sock, blue sock, green sock...

  • Compare shirts. Talk about how they are alike and different.

  • Take a walk and talk about what you see.

BOOKS

• • Count how many books are in your bedroom.

  • Choose two books. Talk about which is heavier/lighter, taller/shorter, thicker/thinner.

  • Open a book to the middle, count the characters on this page.

  • Choose any two books. Tell how they are alike and different.

  • Pick your favorite book. Tell 3 reasons you like

TOYS

• • Choose ten toys and count them backwards.

  • Using the same 10 toys, sort them as many ways as you can.

  • Using the same 10 toys, put them in order from smallest to largest (parents please help with this as needed).

  • Choose any two toys. Tell how they are alike and different.

  • Pick your favorite toy. Tell why it is your favorite.

OUTSIDE

• • Look up. Count the clouds in the sky.

  • Sort objects found outside, such as, leaves, rocks, sticks, etc.

  • Create a pattern with objects from outside. For example: rock, rock, leaf, rock, rock, leaf.

  • Choose any two trees or plants. Tell how they are alike and different.

  • Look outside. Tell three signs of fall.

AT HOME

• • Count all the doors in your home.

  • Are there more beds or bedrooms in your home?

  • Find something in your home to match each shape: circle, square, rectangle, triangle.

  • Do you have more telephones or televisions?

  • Count all the windows in your home.

IN THE KITCHEN

• • Let your child help put away the dishes. This is a natural sorting task.

  • Let your child stand on a stool or chair at the sink. Provide various size containers for pouring and comparing amounts of water. Talk about empty, full, more and less.

  • Make sandwiches together. Cut in half in different ways.

  • When you are cooking, invite your child to help measure. Compare sizes of various measuring tools (cups and spoons).

  • Ask your child to help you sort groceries as you put them away.

  • Count the cans and/or boxes.

SHOES

• • Put several pairs of shoes in a pile. Encourage your child to sort them in a variety of ways; i.e., laces/no laces, high heel/flat, kids/adults.

  • Have your child count each family member’s shoes.

  • Help your child trace around his/her shoe. Find things around the house that are about the same length as the shoe print.

  • Pick two different shoes. Talk about how they are alike and different.

  • Create a pattern with shoes. For example: lace-up, lace-up, buckle, lace-up, laceup, buckle.

ANIMALS

• • Count the animals in your house both living and stuffed. Which do you have more of?

  • Pick two different animals. Talk about how they are alike and different.

  • Talk about some animals that are big and some that are small.

  • Draw an animal with spots. How many spots are on your animal?

IN THE CLOSET

• • Do you have more shirts or shoes in your closet? Check by counting.

  • Look for patterns in your family’s clothing.

  • Count all the closets in your house. Are there more closets or people?

  • Pick two items out of your closet. Talk about how they are alike or different.

  • Look in your closet for items that zip, button, snap tie and velcro. Can you open and close all these fasteners?