The current concerns with the COVID-19 disease have caused many schools throughout the country to move to an online platform, causing much stress for teachers and families alike. With schools cancelled and parents relying on schooling their children at home, the assignments given may cause frustration. Parents are looking for a way to keep their children engaged with learning beyond the assignments to keep them engaged.
For younger students, playing simple card games, such as memory, helps them to learn their basic numbers. Fact games can be played with a deck of cards as well; draw two cards and have the student give the sum or product.
A practice that can be used any time is trading money for snacks at home. Leave some loose change in the kitchen and ask students to give a certain amount of money for each snack.
Older students can play games like Monopoly; have the student play the role of the banker and require them to count and collect money as well as give money. The capitalistic premise of the game also helps students to weigh the costs and benefits of trading property.
Blokus is another one of my favorites; it is a geometric spatial game that helps develop a sense of area for students. This game can be played by younger students, but older students will get more competitive. While I was reluctant to play when I first got the game, I came to love it when I started to improve my strategies.
Even word games like Scrabble require math. Utilizing bonus score tiles can give an advantage to a player. Have students try to maximize the use of these tiles and also assist in keeping score.
There are many more games that require math and logic; looking around at home will probably yield some. The important thing to keep in mind is to try to incorporate age appropriate skills into the games and to keep students engaged and learning during this time, while also showing that it is possible to have fun while learning.
Mathnasium is offering an @Home platform for students. For more information, please call us at 203-757-1234 or email us at [email protected].
