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Math Game Monday: Connect 4 – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game pushes students to visualize shapes in two dimensions as they plan their strategic moves. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Connect 4 Math Concepts: logical strategy, visualization.…
Playful Math for the Summer – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
I continue to dig myself out of the avalanche of tasks that built up during the years that I spent mostly down south with my mom as she was weakening. But here are two tidbits of mathy fun that came across my desk recently, which I think you'll enjoy... Numberhive Place Value I think I've…
Thinking Thursday: A Good Teacher – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: You can spark creative thought by removing any need to worry about spelling or punctuation rules. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or…
Math Game Monday: Picture Puzzles – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This cooperative number puzzle game builds fluency while allowing for artistic expression. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Picture Puzzles Math Concepts: number properties, mental math. Players: at least…
Thinking Thursday: Secret Number Codes – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: Games are the ultimate re-playable activity prompts. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice.…
Math Game Monday: Wild & Crazy Eights – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
The whole family can enjoy playing with numbers in this childhood classic math game. The more, the merrier! Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Wild & Crazy Eights Math…
Musings: Mental Math Is the Key to Algebra – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
“If you stay with meaningful mental arithmetic longer, you will find that your child, if she is average, can do problems much more advanced than the level listed for her grade. You will find that she likes arithmetic more. “And when she does get to abstractions, she will understand them better. “She will not need…
Thinking Thursday: Alexander Pope – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math…
Math Game Monday: Krypto – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game gives older students practice consolidating everything they've learned about number relationships. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. So what are you waiting for? Let's play some math!…
Thinking Thursday: Growing Patterns – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: When students create their own math, they forge a personal connection to mathematical concepts and relationships. And it’s fun! Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a…
Math Game Monday: Galactic Conquest – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game gives students plenty of practice with multiplication facts as they strive to expand their territory and block their opponent. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Galactic Conquest…
Thinking Thursday: Quarter the Square – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: People learn math by playing with ideas. A math journal can be like a science lab book. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic…
Get Ready for a Summer of Playful Math – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
ALL my math game books are on sale now at the Playful Math Store. What a great way to prepare for a summer of mathematical play! Check it out! Math You Can Play My original Math You Can Play series focuses specifically on math games sorted by topics traditionally taught at various age levels. These…
Math Game Monday: Dollar Nim – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game encourages children to think strategically as they add coin values. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Dollar Nim Math Concepts: subtraction within one hundred, value of coins,…
Musings: Mathematical Beauty – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Memories... We were eclectic homeschoolers back in the Dark Ages before there was an internet. Our primary curriculum was the public library. As we went along, I noticed how many of our homeschooling friends felt uncomfortable with math, and even hated or feared the subject. Math anxiety runs rampant in Western culture. By one researcher’s…
Thinking Thursday: Sci-Fi Puzzle 1 – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: Problem-solving cares less about whether an answer is right and more about whether a solution makes sense. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic…
Math Game Monday: Four in a Row – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game gives students plenty of practice multiplying and dividing integers or algebraic expressions as they try to complete their own line or block their opponents. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is…
Playful Math Carnival 180 via Math Hombre – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
If you're into math education --- or just curious about how learning math could possibly be fun --- you'll definitely want to check out the latest edition of the Playful Math Carnival. It's a collection of awesome blog posts curated by John Golden and published on the Math Hombre website: Playful Math Carnival 180: The…
Thinking Thursday: Thomas Jefferson – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math…
Algebra Puzzle from Lewis Carroll – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
On a friend’s blog, I found this delightful letter written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson to a young man named Wilton Cox. The pseudonym Lewis Carroll comes from an alteration of the Latinized name Carolus (for Charles) and the replacement of Lutwidge with Lewis. The Puzzle Honoured Sir, Understanding you to be a distinguished algebraist (that…
Math Game Monday: Sam Vandervelde’s Criss-Cross – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game offers students a chance to practice mathematical reasoning (and possibly notice a connection to the Euler characteristic). Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Sam Vandervelde’s Criss-Cross Math…
Thinking Thursday: Math News – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: Research prompts help students view math as a human endeavor. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools…
Morning Coffee: What Is Mathematics? – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
One of the best ways we can help our children learn mathematics (or anything else) is to be lifelong learners ourselves. Here are a few stories to read as you sip your morning brew. . . Download your printable Morning Coffee journal This week's rabbit hole started with a thought-provoking blog post by Sara Van…
Math Game Monday: Collect Ten – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This preschool game builds counting and subitizing skills. (Subitizing means recognizing at a glance how many objects are in a group.) Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Collect Ten…
Monday is Square Root Day – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
On May 5, we celebrate one of the rarest math holidays: Square Root Day, 5/5/25. Here are a few ideas for playing math with squares and roots. What is a Square Root? Five is the square root of twenty-five, which means it is the number we can "square" (multiply times itself) to get 25. The…
Thinking Thursday: Circle Dance – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: When students learn to visualize shapes, designs, and patterns, it makes them better at math. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving…
ALL Mathy Merchandise on Sale Now – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
April has been a crazy month here at my little one-person business, which means promotion fell through the cracks. I try to run a sale on something every month, to give you a reason to drop by my Playful Math Store. And I'm supposed to post blogs and social media about the discount, so nobody…
Math Game Monday: Ultimate Multiple-Tac-Toe – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game gives players lots of practice with their multiplication facts while strategically blocking their opponents. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Ultimate Multiple-Tac-Toe Math Concepts: multiplication math facts,…
Thinking Thursday: Plan a Math Mini-Zine – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: Math journal explanations avoid the formality that turns so many students away from geometry proofs. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving…
Skit: The Handshake Problem – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
If seven people meet at a party, and each person shakes the hand of everyone else exactly once, how many handshakes are there in all? Our homeschool co-op held an end-of-semester assembly. Each class was supposed to demonstrate something they had learned. I threatened to hand out a ten question pop quiz on integer arithmetic,…
Math Game Monday: Two-Digit Number Train – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game makes players think about place value and probability as they race to complete their number train. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Two-Digit Number Train Math Concepts:…
Thinking Thursday: Silly Units – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: When students create their own math, they forge a personal connection to mathematical concepts and relationships. And it’s fun! Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a…
Charlotte Mason Math: Living Books – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
[An addendum to my earlier Charlotte Mason Math series.] “Our business is to give [children] mind-stuff, and both quality and quantity are essential. Naturally, each of us possesses this mind-stuff only in limited measure, but we know where to procure it; for the best thought the world possesses is stored in books; we must open…
Math Game Monday: Forty-Niners – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game pushes players to risk everything in a gold-rush of addition practice. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Forty-Niners Math Concepts: addition up to three hundred, probability with…
Thinking Thursday: Paul Erdős – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: What did the author mean? Put the thought in your own words. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math…
Musings: Math Is a Social Game – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Childhood Memories When I was in school, math was something each person did on their own for homework, quizzes or tests. Even when the teacher sent us to work on the chalkboard, each person did their own problem. We would never think to collaborate on math. To look at someone else's answer was considered cheating.…
Math Game Monday: Salute – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Help children review times-table facts while they practice the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Salute may be the only game in my…
Thinking Thursday: Number Yoga – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: Number play doesn’t have to follow school math methods. Do you want your children to develop the ability to reason creatively and figure out things on their own? Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of…
Morning Coffee: Anyone Can Learn Math – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
One of the best ways we can help our children learn mathematics (or anything else) is to be lifelong learners ourselves. Here are a few stories to read as you sip your morning brew: Download your printable Morning Coffee journal. Once again, my rabbit hole started with a thought-provoking blog post from Dan Finkel... “Not…
Math Game Monday: Bango – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This family-friendly game helps young children practice recognizing numbers as they learn how playing cards work. Many parents remember struggling to learn math. We hope to provide a better experience for our children. And one of the best ways for children to enjoy learning is through hands-on play. Bango Math Concepts: number symbols. Players: three…