Math is everywhere, it’s all around us. And when students realize this, they begin to understand why it is so important to study and practice math. It can also make math more fun in the process. Before your kids start to ask you “when am I ever going to use this?”; here are 3 examples of everyday math that are perfect for summer!
Baking and Cooking
Pull out your favorite recipe and let your kids help you make something delicious. Along the way, you’ll see how often you work with fractions, addition, subtraction, and more. If you want to give your kids extra practice, try doubling or halving the recipe, too.
Shopping
Next time you go shopping, think about how often you use math. You need to calculate prices, quantities, your budget, and more. You need to think about coupons and discounts, figuring out how much the shirt costs if it's 30% off of the original ticketed price. As you walk through the store, discuss the math with your child. Let them help you calculate the prices and figure out how much the total will be before the sales associate rings you up.
Enjoying Sports
Whether you’re playing or watching a sport, you may find yourself doing math without even knowing it. For example, you might say, “we’re down by 5” or “we need two touchdowns to win.” As you watch or play sports with your student, identify ways that math is used by the players and officials throughout the game.
It may be surprising for students to find out there are examples of everyday math all around us. Help your child identify the ways math is used from day to day, so they can understand the importance of mastering math concepts, and have a little fun along the way.
