6 Activities That Promote Math During Mathematics And Statistics Awareness Month

Each year in April, we celebrate Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month! This started in 1986 when it was decided that we should take some extra time to truly appreciate the value of mathematics. And now, in Mathematics Awareness Month 2023, we think the time has come to once again focus on what we love about math in our lives. There are so many activities that promote math that we can do with our kids – but why should we? Read on to learn more.

Why do we celebrate Math Month?
First of all, it gives us a chance to pay respect to the dedicated researchers and students of math and statistics, who contribute to some pretty impressive discoveries. Those in this field come from a diverse range of backgrounds and their input is so valued. Thanks to these hard-working and clever-thinking individuals, we learn more and more about how the world works every day!

Another important focus of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month is the promotion of math education. It gives us a chance to acknowledge the importance of learning about math (for kids as well as adults), and recognize how often we use childhood math lessons in our daily lives. (If you fancy showing your appreciation for all things math, there’s now even a hashtag for this! #MathStatMonth)

How do you make math activities fun?
Luckily, there are a number (we couldn’t resist!) of ways to make Mathematics Awareness Month 2023 great fun, through a range of activities that promote math. For some exciting ideas for math-related activities to do with your kids, check out the list below!

1. Counting games
Counting games are one of the simplest math engagement activities, and are also very effective. They work especially well for younger children. Try to introduce counting in a fun way during everyday activities or moments. Some examples of ways to incorporate math like this include asking your child to count the number of colors they have in today’s outfit, telling you how many birds are in the garden, or counting dogs in the park. By choosing engaging and dynamic things to count, you can get your child to use their addition skills in their everyday lives.

2. Board games
Many board games involve math – in fact, any game with a die is one of many fun Math Month activities! By rolling the die, adding the resulting numbers, and moving a board piece the corresponding number of places, children can put their math skills to good use. For children who are already advanced in math, try using multiple dice. Classic games like Snakes and Ladders are a good option. However, even Cluedo involves the use of math, in a disguised way! Why not get creative and have a fun math-filled board game night with your kid?

3. Baking or cooking
Incorporating math into baking is one of our favorite Math Month activities. When you get your child actively helping you to measure out ingredients, not only do you get a helping hand in the kitchen, but they get math practice and a tasty reward for their (and your) hard work! What’s not to love? Of course, it’s important to supervise children in the kitchen, so make sure you keep an eye on them to ensure they stay safe. Another example of a way to use math in a fun way while cooking is by asking your child to help you divide something like a pizza or cake into equal slices.

4. Calculating costs while grocery shopping
Looking for great Math Month activities for elementary school children, as well as a helper for your grocery store trip? Well, this option combines the two! Bring your child along with you and ask them to help you calculate the costs of things in your shopping cart in their head. It’s better in this case not to buy anything that is strangely priced or involves lots of high numbers – you don’t want to overwhelm them. However, this can be a nice way to show your child the value of math in a real-life setting. Thanks to the availability of online shopping, you could also do this from the comfort of your own home, if that’s an option for your family.

5. Measuring body parts
It may sound goofy, but why not make this one of your math engagement activities? Ask your child to measure their feet – maybe even to compare their foot size to yours – or perhaps the length of one of their fingers, their ears… Really, anything that grabs their attention and gets them engaged in using their math skills! Adding an element of playfulness can make math seem a lot more interesting and less daunting or boring.

6. Using money
If it’s possible to use cash in the store near you, and if there isn’t a long queue behind you, encourage your child to count out the money for a small purchase (preferably under ten dollars) and to check the change they get back from the cashier. This is another fun and practical use of math skills – one that is becoming less and less with the increase in card payments. However, we’re sure your child will enjoy purchasing their own hard-earned treat from the grocery store.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of activities that promote math and that you have fun trying some of these with your child during Mathematics Awareness Month 2023!

 

Featured image by Artturi Jalli on Unsplash