Hi, friends! Summertime is here or almost for some of you! We’ve packed up our classrooms and put away the learning tools. Maybe you’re on your last week of school, teaching summer school, or have kids of your own. Either way, I’ve got some fun ways to use math charts with your students or children.
100 Charts for Summer Learning
100 charts are a staple in math centers. This week, let’s explore some ways to these charts…summer style. ☀️ Crayons and markers are a parent’s best friend during the summer, or an iPad if we’re honest 😉. Let’s use these versatile coloring tools to help children skip count their way to the sprinklers or summer reading program at the library. (1) When children read a book this summer, or with you as a family, have them color in the even numbers for each book read. When they finish the chart, give them a treat. Here’s a digital resource to also help children skip count to 1000 by 5, 10, and 100.
Do your children earn money for doing certain chores during the summer? Let children earn dimes for helping pick weeds, helping wash the car, cleaning their room, etc. Then, (2) have them tape dimes down the chart to count them as they earn. A fun way to teach children to count money! You can have children count out the family’s money jar and do the same with pennies and nickels. 💰
Start children thinking about subtraction. Tell children two numbers and have them place bingo chips or other small items on the numbers on their chart. (3) Ask them how far away the two numbers are from each other. This helps them understand the “distance” between two numbers.
Addition Tables for Summertime Fun
Addition charts are easy ways for children to find the sum of two numbers. While you’re cooking or baking, ask children what two numbers equal. For example, tell them you need 2 tablespoons and 3 tablespoons of baking powder for a cookie recipe, you can use random numbers for this activity. Then, (4) have them find the sum on their chart. They will also feel like they are helping.
Bring out those coloring tools again and (5) have children color the table to show patterns in addition. Print out addition tables to hang on the fridge, make it fun to wait for something to happen; waiting for a snack to be made, someone to come home, getting ready to leave. (6) Ask children addition facts to keep them busy.
Subtraction Charts On the Go
Visualizing is important when learning math skills. Take your charts and tables with you to keep math learning going while on vacation or running errands this summer. (7) When eating lunch out, you can tell your child, “you have six fries left, how many will you have if you eat two? Let’s look at the chart first and then let’s see if it’s right.”
Make subtraction learning fun by using Legos or other small toys that your child loves. Place a group of toys next to your child, ask them to count them. Then, tell your child to take a small number of toys away from the pile. Ask them how many are left. (8) Have children use the subtraction chart along with counting out the answer themselves.
Bring out a deck of cards. Doesn’t it seem that playing cards and dominoes work so well to help teach math? (9) Have children draw two cards and use these numbers on their subtraction table. In pairs, each child can draw a card and see who can find the answer on their chart before the other.
I shared these last week, but they also go so well with this week’s post. (10) Click the image below to grab your FREE summer bookmarks with math charts to keep the math learning going through summer whether at home or on the road. 😎
I hope you these activities are helpful and you can use them this summer or next school year. If you’re still teaching or sticking around the classroom for summer school, you can also send home some of these ideas to families to use to help support their child’s math knowledge this summer.
Chat with you next week!
Jess