Summer Math

Draw a shape in chalk on the concrete and have your child use water to erase it.

• I spy numbers. When out and about, spy numbers 1-10 on license plates, signs, etc.

• Hunt for groups of things. For example, hunt for groups of three, you could find a lamp stand with 3 poles, a clover with 3 leaves, poison ivy with 3 leaves, a sign with 3 letters, etc.

• Go Fish, Old Maid, Memory, War, Uno, Race to 100, Chutes and Ladders.

• I Spy hunt for shapes, including 3D shapes like cones, cylinders, and cubes.

• Make 10. Take a dice and race to 10 by adding your rolls. To make it extra hard, you can make the rule that if your roll goes beyond 10 you have to either skip that turn or subtract that amount.

• Countdown. Write the numbers 2-12 down on a page or use number cards for each player. Take turns rolling two dice, for each roll take away the number you roll, if you have already used that number you skip that turn. The first one to eliminate all their numbers wins.

Practice number-quantity correspondence. Match numeral to quantity or quantity to numeral using whatever manipulatives you choose. Number cards in the resource section. Start with 1-5 and slowly work up to 1-10.

• Practice 1 to 1 correspondence. With your PreK student, practice counting a group of objects by touching each object and counting aloud.

• Sort objects, fill a bin of things with different quantities and encourage your student to find different ways to sort the items.

• Practice patterns. Try AB, ABC, and ABBA patterns with your child. Ask them to model some pre-made patterns and create their own.

• Practice simple addition using manipulatives. Grab a handful of one type of item count it and write the number, then grab a handful of another type of item, count and write the number. Then add the two quantities together to find the total. This helps students visualize how an addition problem works. You can also pre-set the items, ask your student to count, write, then total and practice that way.

• Practice simple subtraction. Take a group of items, count and write the number then ask your student to take away some items (a dice is a great way to do this) and find the new total.

• Compare groups of items 1-5 and try to instantly recognize which one has more or less without having to count.