7 Ideas for Summer Math Practice
Just because you might be taking a break from your formal homeschooling for the summer, doesn’t mean you can’t find plenty of ways to include fun summer math practice.
This applies to year-round homeschoolers who want some summer-themed math practice, too. Use inexpensive summer items to reinforce math skills while keeping the kids interested for a fun and educational summer!
Summer Math Practice
Pool Noodles
Slice pool noodles, write numbers and math symbols ( +, -, +,x, etc) on the side, toss into pool and have the kids swim and grab 3. Then they can make math problems using what they grab and solve the problem. Have younger children stack the same pool noodle numbers in order on a stick. These really can be used in so many ways. {They work well for spelling practice with letters, too!}
Chalk
Write math problems on the driveway or even a wooden fence for your child to solve for math practice. Write random numbers then call out math problems, then have your child hop or run to the answer. Young children can practice writing numbers or counting the pieces of chalk.
Sensory Bin
Especially for preschoolers but older kids might love it too! Fill a sensory bin halfway with sand, bury numbers from puzzles or magnetic numbers and have your child search and find them, they can identify them, create simple math problems with them, etc. You can do the same by floating numbers in water or colored noodles for a different sensory experience. Read this post about sensory bins for more ideas.
Seashells
Purchase a bag of seashells from the dollar store or collect and clean some from a beach trip. Write numbers and operations on them and have your child use them to solve problems, create a number line, or count. These can be used in sensory bins or as math manipulatives year round.
Water
Math is not just addition and subtraction. Provide your child with plenty of water, measuring cups, spoons, scales, and other measurement devices like rain gauges. Let them play and investigate while you point out measurements and teach them how to read the devices they are using.
Water Balloons
Write numbers on balloons before filling, tie them up in a tree and call out math problems, then have your child pop the correct answer with a stick. Or reverse it by writing the math problem on the balloon and then calling out the answer letting them pop the question. Double the fun — your child gets math practice in and gets to cool off!
Apps
Sometimes we just need a break from the heat and indoors is the only place to be. Practice math skills on the computer or using fun math apps on tablets to beat the heat while learning.
Do you have any ideas to add to this list? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for more fun ideas for summer learning? Check out these great posts:
- Spring Books for Kids - March 15, 2024
- 21 St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Kids - March 5, 2024
- 32 St. Patrick’s Day Books for Kids - March 2, 2024
I love math. Yahtzee is great for teaching little ones basic math skills in order at the same time. Almost all family board games can be used in addition to teach math. I like to use some free exam papers and videos from time to time to introduce a few other concepts as well. Good luck. There are so many cheap workbooks on the market available too. They are all worth exploring at the very least. I have a lot of workbooks on school subjects in my bedroom that I prefer to use. Free exam papers could be utilised as a means of improving exam results and technique.