Here is an idea for a FUN way to spice up addition fact practice. We called it “magic math!”
Gresham has been working on larger addition facts, and at this point in the school year, we’re honestly all tired of school work! Last night while I was planning for today, I had the idea to combine crayon resist and water color paints with math problems.
I made Gresham a worksheet with the facts that I wanted him to practice. Under each answer, I drew a box for the “magical check.”
After he finished the problems (I didn’t write the numbers in beforehand because Gresham was watching me make Owen’s magical math sheet and could read the white crayon numbers!), I filled in the answers with white crayon in the magical check box.
Then, Gresham painted with watercolors over each box to reveal the answer!
There were some surprising benefits to this activity:
- It was not Mom telling him that he was wrong. He was able to see for himself if his answers matched the correct answers.
- Correcting his math work was fun.
- And, he noticed his number reversals himself!
Of course, I couldn’t get out paints for Gresham without letting Owen paint too, so I made him a simple number matching page:
I told him to paint a line to match up the numbers to the stars, and here is what he came up with. (It’s a good thing he’s only 3 and we have plenty of time to work on math!)
More ideas for practicing addition facts:
- Write them on the sidewalk with chalk. A good effort with math practice earns the chance to spray down the mess with the hose!
- Make a simple card game (not flashcards – something more fun!)
- Roll two dice and add the numbers.
- Write facts on a white board with dry erase markers.
11 Comments
Eddie - The Usual Mayhem Apr 9, 2013
Love, love, LOVE this! Pinning and probably copying the idea shamelessly with my 5 year old (but only at home). :)
Sarah Apr 10, 2013
Feel free to copy the idea!! Glad you liked it!
Gabbi Apr 9, 2013
This idea is awesome! Thank you for sharing. So doing this this week with my boys!
Jill Apr 9, 2013
Love this idea! I am going to try this next week with my daughter. Thank you! :-)
Poon Apr 12, 2013
Thank you so much for a great idea! My son will love it.
Lindsey Apr 18, 2013
What a fun idea!! Thanks for sharing! I have a classroom full of boys next year and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed as a mom of girls!
Danielle Apr 22, 2013
so clever!
Susan Syddall Apr 22, 2013
What a great idea. I'm going to try this with my boys.
LeCricia Apr 22, 2013
LOVE THIS!! Gonna do this with my boys tomorrow!!
Bree Jun 11, 2013
I am in love with your site. I tried this with my 6 year old he loves it. And wants me to do this with every math worksheet today he was screaming with joy when he saw that he got an answer right. So worth my time!!! (I have 4 boys under 6 and another on the way)
Sarah Jun 12, 2013
That's so awesome! Thanks for letting me know!
Melanie Jun 19, 2013
Awesome! I know 2 boys who will love this!
amanda Jun 23, 2013
This is genius! I've been wanting fun ways to spice up learning over the summer I'm def doing this with my 7 year old thanks!
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