Moving through Summer with Fun Math Activities

Hi, friends! Summer heat has started even before the official beginning of summer here in the US. Are you also feeling the heat? Summer may not officially be here yet, but we are all probably heading outdoors more than ever. The Savvy Apple Community seems to really like posts about everyday math. 😀Thanks for the great feedback! This week I’m including a little more everyday math, except this time we’re heading outdoors! 🌲 Summer math learning can be fun!

Get Moving to Increase Learning

As teachers, and parents, we know that children learn in different ways. Individual children even learn differently than their peers or siblings. Research has shown that moving while learning actually increases the acquisition of skills being taught. Not to get too technical, but the parts of the brain that are used when a child is learning is actually the same parts that are used when a child is moving. Physical activity also improves a child’s memory and concentration. So, not only is movement great to get the wiggles out, but it will also help children focus and acquire skills and concepts easier. Now, let’s apply this to math inside and outside the classroom.

Cool Math at School

Let’s start this section by chatting about something that most teachers already incorporate into the school day, exercise breaks. The most popular form of this is having students participate in jumping jacks, squats, or lunges. These are usually counted out loud and can be great fun for the kids to help burn off some energy before learning begins. Remember, this also helps them focus on their lessons. 😉

Represent fractions through student movement. You can add some fraction learning into this routine by asking 1/2 of the class to do jumping jacks and the other half to do squats. Next, you can incorporate 1/3 and 2/3 of the class. This can also be a great activity to start the day with and can help students who are still a little sleepy in the morning. Let’s talk shapes. Hide shapes throughout the classroom and have students go on a scavenger hunt for the shapes throughout the day. You can include 2D and 3D shapes.

Teach students to step count through singing and dancing. This is also a great way for students to memorize math facts. Moving and singing helps them to retain the knowledge. Hand out cards, index cards or sticky notes work well, with numbers on them. Have students line themselves up from least to greatest.

Steps as a Learning Tool

Not all schools have stairs, but if they do, they can be useful for counting. As children go about their daily routine, start a group count as the class uses the stairs. Count by 1s, 2s, or 3s. Counting as a group also helps children who feel insecure counting alone in front of the class. As children move to skip counting, stairs can be a fun way to count. Another step activity is for children to count the number of steps it takes to get from point A to point B. Have children march and count down the hall or to the cafeteria. You can also have children measure the length of a room, field, or the playground by counting their strides.

Taking Math Outside

As I mentioned before, summertime is a great opportunity to make learning fun outdoors. A lot of children play sports during the summer. It doesn’t always have to be team sports. Children can count the number of baskets that they make on the basketball court. They can count the number of bounces they do with their ball. Use a chalk board or paper to let students keep score during a game of baseball. Even jumping rope can be a fun, summer math, counting activity.

I like to hike with my family. Nature walks bring out the curiosity in young children. We all know how many things children like to collect when playing outdoors. Children can take a bucket or pouch on their nature walk and count the number of sticks, rocks, flowers, branches, and pinecones that they collect. Extend learning by having them make patterns with their collection. A little glue and construction paper can help make a great art display. I’m sure after a few walks you will have quite a collection of rocks and pinecones. Use these for throwing into a bucket while counting. Addition and subtraction skills can be practiced using these learning tools.

Learning Math through Clapping & Drawing

Kindergarten standards include having students represent addition and subtraction with sounds, drawings, and their fingers. How fun is this standard! Children love to clap and move. The development of one-to-one correspondence is supported when children clap the beat or move to music. Ask your students to repeat a clapping sequence. 👏

Clapping can also help demonstrate the concept of patterns. Demonstrate a clapping and snapping pattern and have children repeat it on their own. This makes a great large or small group activity. Students can take turns making their own pattern for their peers to try.

Art can not only incorporate patterns but also shapes. Wondering how art can be incorporated with movement? Art and movement can work together. You just have to be a little creative. You probably have already done many of these activities without even thinking that both are working together.

Children can draw shapes in the sand or dirt. They can hop and draw a shape, then repeat along a path. Sidewalk chalk is an absolute if you ever take children outside. They can draw patterns with different colors, shapes of various sizes, and a hopscotch grid. They can count as they hop, even skip count.

“Time” for More Summer Math

Create a giant number line and use it for addition and subtraction facts. Children can also “jump” the number line while counting. When outside, keep sidewalk chalk in your pocket for quick, fun math activities. Giant clocks are so much fun for slightly older children. This can be drawn outside with chalk or inside with sheets of drawing paper or floor tape. Children can work together to show the time.

I hope this post has provided you with inspiration for summer math with your students. It will help them stay interested and increase their knowledge retention. Here’s another post about fun, summer math activities. Don’t forget that digital resources can be a good companion to these activities. When children come inside, they can relax with a fun digital product. They also work well on rainy days. Check out these colorful digital resources. What other movement math activities do you do with your students? I would love to share some of your ideas on Instagram this week.

Have a great week!

Jess