Complete Resource List
Search Recommended Math Resources
Search Recommended Math Resources
Use the search filters below to return results. Keep an eye out for some of my top favorites-- my "BookSmart Picks"-- that are sure to entertain and educate your kids! And, many activities use common materials you likely have at home already. Look for entries marked with the "Common Items" icon to find activities that shouldn't require any purchase.
At 12 years old, Claudia is the oldest child in her family and feels woefully unappreciated at home. She decides to leave, but does not want to simply run away, and instead decides to run to someplace, choosing the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as her temporary home. She brings along one of her brothers, Jamie, as an accomplice…
At 12 years old, Claudia is the oldest child in her family and feels woefully unappreciated at home. She decides to leave, but does not want to simply run away, and instead decides to run to someplace, choosing the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City as her temporary home. She brings along one of her brothers, Jamie, as an accomplice and to help with money during the excursion. Once at the museum, they find themselves amidst a great art mystery surrounding a newly-acquired statue. Determined to find answers, Claudia and Jamie go on a quest to discover the source of the statue, and also learn a bit about themselves in the process. The math in this book involves not only puzzling through clues and making deductions, but also in budgeting money. Throughout the book, Claudia and Jamie must keep track of their money, determine what to spend money on, and even acquire more money (via their baths in the fountain!). Have your child keep track of their spending, as well as discuss inflation and how prices have changed from 1967 until now. What might their adventure cost now?
A polar bear thinks that he is the tallest around. But then different animals step in and show him how when they work together, they are just as tall as him. For instance, two walruses show him that together they are the same height, and then three foxes show the same…
A polar bear thinks that he is the tallest around. But then different animals step in and show him how when they work together, they are just as tall as him. For instance, two walruses show him that together they are the same height, and then three foxes show the same. The book uses charming illustrations to demonstrate adding on by one and relative size.
Buy It Right helps to reinforce money skills—money recognition, adding, and making change. Players set prices and buy and sell items as they move around the game board. And with three levels of play, this game is great for multiple age levels. Players can opt to play with only the paper bills (level 1), only the coins (level 2), or both bills and coins (level 3)…
Buy It Right helps to reinforce money skills—money recognition, adding, and making change. Players set prices and buy and sell items as they move around the game board. And with three levels of play, this game is great for multiple age levels. Players can opt to play with only the paper bills (level 1), only the coins (level 2), or both bills and coins (level 3). At levels 2 and 3, multiple dice are used, adding an extra layer of complexity with understanding place value. Players at these levels must decide in what order they want to place the amounts from the dice (ex: if they roll a 2 and a 6, do they want to make 26 cents or 62 cents). This can change depending on if they are rolling an amount that they have to pay and want to make the smallest amount possible or if they are rolling an amount that will determine how much they are to be paid and they want to make the largest amount. All of the coins and bills are accurate to size, though the coins are a little darker in color. Overall, this is a great game for learning about using money!
With cute puppies and colorful numbers, this game is sure to engage your early learner. In this game, you place one of the numbers (1-10) on one side of the scale, then count out the correct number of puppies to match and put them on the opposite side of the scale. If the scale balances, you are correct! Once your child masters number recognition and counting…
With cute puppies and colorful numbers, this game is sure to engage your early learner. In this game, you place one of the numbers (1-10) on one side of the scale, then count out the correct number of puppies to match and put them on the opposite side of the scale. If the scale balances, you are correct! Once your child masters number recognition and counting, you can move on to some basic addition using the scale. This game is especially well done because not only are the numbers weighted precisely to match the weight of the corresponding number of puppies, but the game also allows for an introduction to weight and the use of a scale. Measurement tends to be a tricky concept for kids to understand, so the more contexts for measurement that kids are given over the years, the better.
Use weather data to track the temperature over the course of a week or month. This is excellent practice for using a data chart, finding data landmarks, and creating a line graph.
Use weather data to track the temperature over the course of a week or month. This is excellent practice for using a data chart, finding data landmarks, and creating a line graph. With collected data, there are many questions that can be considered and answered. And, upon graphing the data there is ample opportunity to decorate so the information jumps off the page!
In this activity, your child gets a chance to play architect, creating blueprints of your own house or apartment. Doing so, they can practice measurement as well as ratios and scale.
In this activity, your child gets a chance to play architect, creating blueprints of your own house or apartment. Doing so, they can practice measurement as well as ratios and scale. They will record dimensions of walls, windows, and doors and mark their locations. Then, using graph paper, they will draw them to scale.
Use restaurant menus to help your child practice working with money and decimals. Have fun role-playing as waiters and customers!
Use restaurant menus to help your child practice working with money and decimals. Have fun taking turns role-playing as waiters and customers! Switch off roles to practice taking orders and processing and paying the check.
Explore the physics of flight and design aesthetics, as well as practice measuring distance, as you and your child play with paper planes.
Explore the physics of flight and design aesthetics, as well as practice measuring distance, as you and your child play with paper planes. This classic activity is all about the iterative process of perfecting flight and becoming comfortable measuring to increasing lengths as your aerodynamics improve.
This is a great activity to get your child thinking about weight and balance, since the mobile won’t work very well without balancing out the weight.
Constructing mobiles is a fun activity that enables creative expression while also testing physical properties. This is a great way to get your child thinking about weight and balance, since a mobile will not work very well without balancing out its weight.
Creating a lemonade stand is a great introduction to business for your child. It involves working with money, adding up costs and income, and determining profit.
Creating a lemonade stand is a great introduction to business for your child. It involves working with money, adding up costs and income, and determining profit. With each refreshing drink poured, your child will be practicing math skills necessary to building a successful venture.
Copyright © BookSmart Math