Do you have an inquisitive little one who loves numbers, shapes, and problem-solving? What if you engage your little ones in a playful way while learning about some super cool mathematical topics? Get ready to be astonished as I tell you a little bit about our Math is Everywhere Family Unit Study, where we explore math in real life!
Did you know that according to probability and the Birthday Paradox, in a room of 23 people, there is a 50% chance that two of those people share a birthday?
Or that bees create a tessellation of hexagons from wax that are then filled with honey?
This is only the beginning! Get ready to be astonished as we explore Math with playful, inquiry-based, hands-on fun!
This unit study, like all of our ever-growing library of unit studies, takes one big topic—Math!—and breaks it down into 10 manageable, bite-sized, learning opportunities. This format allows you to dive all into learning about one area whenever you are set.
Perhaps you do one area per day, perhaps one per week. Whatever suits your fancy! You can learn and explore from start to finish in about 1-2 hours per bite-sized learning topic.
Dive in and watch the sparks of wonder ignite. Watch the child-led learning take off. Watch what happens when children are engaged in what they are learning!
For this Math is Everywhere Family Unit Study, we have broken the unit study up into the following 10 bite-sized learning topics. Each one includes everything you need for that topic:
- from a curated YouTube video,
- to information to read,
- to a “what’s happening” section,
- interesting fact,
- discussion questions,
- literacy and math extensions,
- and an ultimate-can’t-be-beat hands-on activity!
Explore Math in Real Life
Here are some of the hands-on learning activities you and your little ones will be enjoying as you explore math in real life:
Topic 1: Math is Everywhere!
Learn about all the ways we use math in our everyday lives. Go on a “Math Scavenger Hunt” in your own home and discover just how much math is under your own roof!
Topic 2: Numbers in American Sign Language (ASL)
ASL is a language that uses hand and facial movements to communicate. For the hands-on activity, you will learn how to sign the numbers 1-10 (or 1-20 if you are up for the challenge!) in ASL.
Topic 3: Origami
Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding utilizes so many mathematical concepts. Use shape, symmetry, fractions, and spatial visualization to follow instructions and create your own origami animal.
Topic 4: Symmetry
Symmetry is more common than you think! What characteristics make an object symmetrical? Apply your understanding to the “Make it Symmetrical” pattern block game to test out your skills.
Topic 5: Equal Parts and Fractions
What are fractions, and how do they help you share a pizza equally amongst friends? Find out all about fractions, then apply your knowledge in the kitchen with our “Equal Parts Pizza Party” task, where you make mini pizzas and divide them in different ways in order to share them equally.
Topic 6: The Fibonacci Sequence
0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8… are the first numbers in the Fibonacci Sequence. Impress your friends with your knowledge of this great mathematician, then showcase your own Fibonacci spiral with squares representing the widths of the numbers in the Fibonacci sequence.
Topic 7: Transformations
Transformation is a fancy mathematical term for movement and describes how shapes move into different positions. Have you ever wondered what a mirror image of your bedroom would look like? Explore the “Transforming Your Bedroom” activity and use transformations to transform your bedroom!
Topic 8: Tessellations
Tessellations can be found in our homes, on stone pathways, in artwork, and throughout nature. Discover the properties that allow some shapes to tessellate and use this knowledge to create a tessellation of your own using pattern blocks.
Topic 9: Patterns
In mathematics, the term pattern is used to describe a sequence of repeating objects, shapes, or numbers. After learning about different types of patterns, take on the Design and Build Lego Tower Challenge to showcase your best pattern-making skills!
Topic 10: Musical Math
Did you know that music and math are interrelated? Music relies heavily on patterns, number sense, and fractions. Discover all about basic rhythms, then play a game of Clap That Rhythm! If you’re up for the challenge, you can even create your own four-beat rhythm patterns to add to the game.
Get the Complete Math is Everywhere Family Unit Study
And there you have it—the ten learning topics exploring math in real life that make up our great big Math is Everywhere Family Unit Study! I hope you will pop on over to check it out and consider purchasing it for you and yours.
Grab the complete unit study right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-math-is-everywhere
Thank you so much for reading!
xo
Sarah
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