word problems for fun?

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
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  • July 2, 2011 at 5:53 pm
    heatherma
    Participant

    Just had to share this (esp. since I used to be math-phobic and we will be starting 1st gr this fall).  My 6 yr old ds was swinging outside and we were just talking about all the birds and things we saw.  And I started just throwing out silly word problems – just testing the waters to see what he could do.  Like, if there are 8 chickens (which were running around the yard at that moment) and a hawk gets x how many are left?  If there are x hummingbirds and a fox gets x how many left? if there are 3 ants and your little brother steps on 2 how many?  we took turns thinking them up and the other figuring it out. Pretty fun. I definitely have boys!  And math is supposed to be things first, real life, and just part of our day. Hey, we did math on a Saturday!

    July 2, 2011 at 7:36 pm
    Sara B.
    Participant

    We do this on walks around town (it’s a small town LOL), when we are in the yard playing, on nature walks, etc.  It is way more fun, and makes it real for them.  My kids never care that we’re “doing math” when we’re not “doing school.”  Laughing

    July 2, 2011 at 8:07 pm
    6boys1girl
    Participant

    My kids love to do math too, esp if they don’t realize it’s math : ).

    A couple of years ago, we made up “family math” which is now one of their favorite activities. We take the ages of everyone and turn them into math problems without using the numbers.So John (age 14) minus Jared (age 10) is Summer (age 4). It can get quite complex as they add multiples and then subtract some to equal a certain person. Plus it’s fun since the numbers keep changing as they have birthdays. And my youngers usually want to participate so badly that they figure out addition and subtraction on their own : ).

    -Rebecca

    July 2, 2011 at 9:01 pm
    cedargirl
    Participant

    I like seeing if they can estimate how much produce will cost by weighing it at the store. 

    July 3, 2011 at 4:30 am
    blue j
    Participant

    We do working word problems while cooking – doubling and tripling recipes.  I really like it when I can show the children that what they’re learning is “life lessons”, not just a math problem. 🙂

    July 3, 2011 at 10:25 am
    AussieMummy
    Participant

    We do it too.. I come up with insanely silly questions for them at all sorts of times. Sometimes I have them use the word problems for their math journals. 😉

    July 3, 2011 at 1:38 pm
    6boys1girl
    Participant

    AussieMummy,

    Tell me how you use a math journal. I’m intrigued.

    -Rebecca

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