(303) 979-9077
(303) 979-9077
[email protected]One of the biggest eternal challenges with math when it comes to teachers and students is making math meaningful and real by helping students see how math can help solve real life dilemmas. Going from classroom whiteboard problems that look like a bunch of abstract numbers to making those numbers translate into everyday transactions is something many teachers strive to do to help math sink in. Well, with 2020 started, we’re all about tackling challenges. While there are concepts like numerical fluency and number sense that kids need to understand as basic principles of math, now more than ever technology can aid in the process of students understanding math beyond the classroom.
One of the most tangible real life ways for kids to understand math is through something that is a huge part of economies in every country around the world. It doesn’t make the world necessarily go round, but it is exchanged, earned, spent, won and lost every day. We’re talking about money. Not that we’re all about the benjamins, but learning about currency and all the faucets of its use and importance in society is a great way for kids to apply their math skills to something very functional in real life. With that said, let’s apply the concept of currency to technology. Here are some different programs for kids that will allow them to explore and elaborate on the concept of money while sharpening their math skills.
Elementary + Middle School
This is an online version of a classic computer and real life game. Students start with $20 in seed money or capital to buy all the items they need in order to create a virtual lemonade stand in their yard. The game goes through day by day spends and sales and each day the player must decide how much lemonade to prepare, how much money is spent on advertising and how much money they should charge buyers per cup. The deciding factors that go into how they determine all the aforementioned info are based on all the cost that goes into stand, including production cost and the weather forecast, which is the chance part, because they weather isn’t always accurate. The game lasts for 25 days and if the player has made enough good decisions with a slight amount of luck to make a profit after 25 days, they have succeeded at becoming a good business owner. Students will enjoy the challenge of this simple game that mimics some real life challenges that business owners face and shows how math fluency can help them work through business adventures.
Middle School + High School
Students who are close to getting their driver’s license or who already have it are likely to find this game interesting and useful. Following the directions for this game, students visit a virtual car lot and choose a car they wish to buy. They then use complex formulas with exponents and fractions to calculate the monthly payments on whatever car they selected. It goes by quickly – it isn’t something that takes hours or days – but it gives students an idea of how it feels to finance something, including what cars really might cost, how much they’ll spending on the principle and how much they’ll be spending on interest. All of those are something that most people will experience in their life and practice can potentially make you better at it.
Middle School + High School
This an entire site dedicated to providing financial information and useful tools surrounding accounting and finance topics for students. In Owning section, students learn about credit cards, what they are and how they work. They also can review the advantages and disadvantages or credit cards and play with a debt calculator to figure out monthly payments and factor in how much money needs to be made to support certain lifestyles. In the Earning section they can explore how to balance work and school and potentially start business. They also can use this section as a resource to decode their paycheck as far as taxes and government deductions go. In the Investment sections, students can learn about what stock market is and basics on how to invest in it. Terms like liquidity, diversification and returns are reviewed so that students can start becoming familiar with investment lingo and meanings attached to it.
We know money can’t buy everything, but it certainly is a good way for kids to put math with something they see in action nearly every day and while games like this help bring math down to earth for students, if the talking about, hearing about or doing math is sending your student into a cold sweat, for whatever reason, it’s probably time to take them to Mathnasium of Littleton. We teach math at a pace that is comfortable for your student and we have the flexibility to fit in your family’s busy schedule. Call us at (303) 979-9077to schedule an assessment for your child!
