Bring the Brain Back from Vacation with Fun Math Games

Summer vacation is certainly all about fun and games, but not likely in math.

If you stopped using your biceps for 2 months, what would happen? They'd start to look like your granny's butt. Ever wondered what happens to your child's brain during the same time span?

Let's face it. During 2 month's summer vacation, kids don't get much of a mental workout. That may not be all bad, as a change of pace is welcome in all age groups. The problem arises when you toss your kids back into school after 2 months of TV, the beach and sleeping in ... and expect them to pick up right where they left off.

Many wise parents help their children bridge this transition time with stimulating board games and tricky puzzles, both excellent ideas for a good overall mental workout. When it comes to math, however, you need very specific stimuli.

You want to see your kids face light up in wonder? Teach them a few vedic math shortcuts. I know when I was growing up, math was only fun once I had it figured out. Up until then it was pure frustration. My dad would take pity on me and teach me a few tricks. Now I know he had never heard of Vedic Math, but still Dad knew some shortcuts that made math fun, like a game. I just lapped it up! It seemed like magic ... and I knew something the other kids didn't!

If there is one thing I'd recommend to parents starting this new school year - it is get some fun math games for your kids. You could try some of the previous ideas, or you might find it easier to get something like Fun with Figures. But whatever you do - do something!

Reddi

Fun Math Games Come in All Sizes

Big kids like fun math games, too. The enemy? Invading integers. "Take that you ingrate!"

Instructions below the game include tips on how to take Get ready ... Aim ... FIRE. And you better get it right. Or your dead.

Give PrimeNumber a whirl and let us know your score.

In fact, score keeping would be a good incentive if played against other class mates.

1. Assign teams with opponents of fairly equal ability.
2. Other options: Students could graph their scores. Do comparison studies. Estimate averages.
3. Set a time frame for the Super Duper Prime Number Champion - could be best out of 3 type of thing, or based around the time frame you expect to study prime numbers in class.

Betcha can't beat me! Reddi

(Okay - I lied. Anyone can get a better score than me!)

Are Fun Math Games Messing with your Mind?

The kharma behind getting Fun Math Games? Skipping the fun element is obviously one reason why some kids don't like math, or any subject for that matter. So, I think it's safe to say we're all agreed that 'boring' has got to stop. But do you ever feel like you're under missile attack - as though this learning thing is time sensitive?

Well, it is time sensitive to a degree. We do want the little beggars to graduate some day, right? But let's face it, we never stop learning.

So have we been messing around with little Johnnie's mind by pressuring him, and ourselves, into doing more. Bigger. Better? Could be. But there is messing and there is messing. What do you say we do some messing games and make that math fun.

The results of a little mind messing can be nothing short of mind boggling. Take a close look at how this big brother used fun math games to get his out of control little brother to do some spelling homework. (read 'math homework') This hyperactive little horror wound up dropping his train obsession for the school books laid out on the table. For a whole hour.

Whoa - I've got to get me some of that!

Reddi

Get Down, Turn Around, Feel-Good Tools for Fun Math Games

What's another source of feel-good tools to use in fun math games? There's only one other thing kids like to do as much as have fun ... and that's eat. My mother told me that I ate so much they couldn't afford to paint the house until I left home!

Pies and pizza have been used to incorporate fun into the introduction of math fractions, but you could also make it a little healthier. But hey, don't dare mention that to your kids. This is supposed to be fun!

Something round, delicious and easily divided by a child? Wraps. Tortillas, tacos or rotis. Whatever you want to call them.

Greeno, the professor referred to in the previous article in Get Fun Math Games, suggested to teach students how to add one-half and one-third, have them cut one wrap into two pieces and another into three pieces. Then they can cut the half-sized piece in thirds and the third-sized piece in half so all the pieces are the same size and can now be added together.

How about popcorn as a feel-good tool ... right before a break, of course. Or if you time it right, maybe you won't even have to make lunch.

After some arithmetic practice, can they measure the butter? Time the process? Count the kernels that didn't pop? Estimate the volume of popped corn you get from unpopped corn? Share a percentage or fraction with Blondie, the lab retriever a'snoozin' in the corner?

How many pieces of popcorn can Blondie eat all at once? Okay, okay - maybe that could get messy. But you see? There's no limit to the feel-good tools you have around the house and limitless ways to create games that make math fun. Get creative!

Reddi

How to turn Noodles into Fun Math Games

The minute you bring out the purple noodle from last summer's poolside frolics, kids will go into fun mode. No convincing needed. They'll automatically connect today's math games with fun. Now you've got the edge!

I picked up this tip from Clyde Greeno, a math-instruction professor with The American Institute for the Improvement of Mathematics Learning and Instruction thanks to a recent article in Tulsa World.

There's a 2nd reason why your kids will view this as a fun math game. You know how kids love to wreck things? Here's a chance for them to do a bit of constructive wrecking. They get to whack their noodle into little pieces. As many as they want.

The only rule is that the pieces must be of equal size.

First, see if they can figure out where to make the first cut so that both pieces will be equal. If they can't, then show them a little short cut trick. Kids love tricks. Bend the thing in half. Cut. Done.

Now see if they can figure out how to cut the 2 new pieces in half. If they get that, they've just mastered their first fraction lesson! Be sure to use the terminology. For example, whole (before cutting), half, two halves, etc. Ask them what they get when they put the 2 halves back together.

Once the pieces are too small to bend, you can incorporate measuring skills so they continue dividing each noodle piece in half. A measuring stick, sewing or carpenter's tape will do just fine.

The underlying trick in today's fun math games idea is to use what I call 'feel-good' tools. Anything that makes your child feel good is fair game.

Have fun! Reddi

The Driving Force Behind Fun Math Games

Fun math games are fast becoming one of the most sought after pastimes. Cool and beautiful people are bent on exercising their brain muscles - not just their abs and buttocks. What about you? And where can you locate fun math games - as opposed to the old boring flash card routine?

Games can be electronic, physical, or involve simple mental calisthenics. They can involve several players or just one. They might require extensive equipment or just your brain. They may be designed for pre-schoolers or college students, the math challenged or mathematicians. Some you play inside, some you play outside. But all of the math games we'll introduce here are fun. We do fun!

What's behind the sudden interest in fun math games?

1. Troubling math scores in American schools.

2. Middle-aged baby boomers desperate to stave off senility.

3. Home schoolers using math games to make math more fun for their children.

4. Growing interest in Vedic Math stimulating overall interest in mathematics (see my developing blog, Get Vedic Math, at Wordpress).

5. And then there's the entertainment value. Math games are just plain fun.

Reddi