Everyday Math Experiences
Students can put away their workbooks and experience a real world math day.
By Kristen Kindoll
Most teachers, including those who homeschool, have had to answer that dreaded question "Why do we have to do this?" This complaint can be about any subject, but in our house, math seems to be the topic that most often provokes this question. I remember feeling that same frustration in elementary school as I completed what seemed like the umpteenth worksheet. The word problems were the worst. I wasn't getting on a train, and I didn’t really care what time it was arriving at the station. I wasn’t interested in figuring out the velocity at which I would fall if I jumped from a building. I just knew that falling would be bad. So, when my children persisted in asking why we had to do math, I decided it was time for a real world math day.
Learning About Fractions With Cooking
Our first lesson involved fractions and cooking. There is no easier way to practice fractions than by following a recipe. We decided to make pancakes. I had my kids examine the recipe and figure out how much each item would have to be increased so that we would be able to make pancakes for three days of breakfasts. I asked them to make a handwritten copy of their calculations. They had fun figuring out the amount needed of each ingredient. It was necessary to use a variety of math skills, including multiplying and adding fractions, in order to complete the task. In addition, they were able to use the skills they had practiced in their math books for a real purpose.
Paying the Bills Involves Some Important Math Skills
Since it was bill paying day, I printed out some fake checks on a sheet of paper. While I worked on paying the real bills, I had my children fill in fake checks with the amounts owed to each business. We then added up the total. I explained how I take our monthly income and subtract from it to find out how much is left. It was a great lesson that enabled them to see how our family income is used to make our household run. Many kids aren’t exposed to these types of realities until their own bills start coming in.
Make a Fort
Next, we constructed a fort. We used tables, chairs and an abundance of sheets to make our hideaway. As my children worked on their fort, it became a feat to show off their engineering skills. First, they had to figure out how to weigh down the sheets so that their fort would be stable. We then measured the square footage and the perimeter of the fort. Next, we measured other rooms in our house and set up a data table. We graphed the information to illustrate our findings. My students then compared the number of rooms in our house to those in their little home-away from-home.
Take a Trip
After a brief rest, we mapped out a road trip and estimated our time at each venue. We tracked the distances in the car and compared varying speeds to see how it changed the arrival times. I then added a twist by adding a surprise stop on our route. I told them how far away it was from the starting point and the approximate mileage. They were able to use their maps to figure out the location. I had them mark an X on the location, an ice cream shop. It was a great treasure hunt with a sweet ending.
Our math day was filled with great experiences. It helped me think of even more ideas for other math days. My children's enthusiasm was infectious and opened my eyes to how much we use math in everyday life. What follows are more math lessons that can be used for real math experiences.
Real World Math Experiences:
Students discuss how math is used in everyday activities. They look for examples in magazines and newspaper articles. By using this activity teachers can get students thinking about how math is used outside the classroom.
In this lessons students use geometric shapes to make a quilt. Students discuss the use of quilts in the Underground Railroad. This lesson provides a way for students to connect geometry to practical uses.
What child doesn't love talking the classroom outside! In this lesson students graph and chart the items they find on the playground.
This lesson connects science and math. Students learn about ants and then complete activities involving patterns. This is a way to get students thinking about the patterns found in nature.
