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Math Game Monday: Honeycomb – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game pushes students to think creatively with integers (positive and negative whole numbers). 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. Honeycomb Math Concepts: integer addition, integer multiplication. Players: two…
Thinking Thursday: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. – 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…
FAQ: How To Start a Homeschool Math Club – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
The question hits my inbox whenever parents start planning for a new school year: "Hello! I am on the board of a homeschool co-op. We have had requests for a math club and wondered if you have any tips for starting one. We service children from K-10th and would need to try to meet the…
Playful Math 182: The Storytelling Carnival – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Would you like some great ideas for reading and playing math with your kids? Sue VanHattum put together a delightful collection of mathematical fiction in honor of Math Storytelling Day: Math Storytelling (Playful Math Carnival 182) What are you waiting for? Come join the fun! Click Here to Read the Carnival Blog Help Us Keep…
Math Game Monday: Fraction Catch – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game builds number sense with fractions on an invisible number line. 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. Fraction Catch Math Concepts: proper and improper fractions, comparing fractions, equivalent…
Mental Math: Early Subtraction – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
By doing mental math, we help our children use the basic principles of arithmetic to simplify problems so they can think about number relationships, mastering the basic structures of how numbers work. And the more our children practice these structures in mental math, the better prepared they will be to recognize the same principles in…
Thinking Thursday: Comparing Data – 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…
Math Game Monday: Chomp – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This is a fun strategy game for students of all ages. Who doesn't like chocolate? 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. Chomp Math Concepts: logic and strategic thinking. Players:…
Thinking Thursday: Connect the Dots 2 – 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…
New Membership Tiers: One-on-One Mentorship – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Over the years, in my public writing and in personal correspondence, I've tried to help younger parents by sharing the things I wish someone would have told me forty years ago. Oftentimes, I will answer a question but never hear back what the person ended up doing or how their family got along. It leaves…
Math Game Monday: Nim & Tsyanshidzi – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game challenges players to think ahead so they don't get trapped. 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. Nim & Tsyanshidzi Math Concepts: logic and strategic thinking. Players: only…
Puzzle: Patty Paper Trisection – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
One of the great unsolved problems of antiquity was to trisect any angle, to cut it into thirds with only the basic tools of Euclidean geometry: an unmarked straight-edge and a compass. Like the alchemist’s dream of turning lead into gold, this proved to be an impossible task. If you want to trisect an angle,…
Math Game Monday: Hide-and-Seek Zoo – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game builds familiarity with the patterns in 2-digit numbers as players search for the secret squares on a hundred chart. 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. Hide-and-Seek Zoo…
Hints for the Patty Paper Trisection – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
No peeking! This post is for those of you who have given the trisection proof a good workout on your own. If you have a question about the proof or a solution you would like to share, please post a comment here. But if you haven't yet worked at the puzzle, go back and give…
Thinking Thursday: Monthly Math – 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…
Mental Math: Early Addition – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
From the very beginning of a child's experience with math, we want to focus on reasoning, making sense of numbers, thinking about how they relate to each other and how we can use these relationships to solve problems. The basic idea of addition is putting like things together: combining parts to make a whole thing,…
Thinking Thursday: The Greatest What? – 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…
Math Game Monday: Number Riddles – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Students love this game for a chance to fool each other --- or better yet, to stump the adult. 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. Number Riddles Math Concepts:…
Tell Children Interesting Things – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
"You don't educate people by telling them useful things; you educate people by telling them interesting things." --- John Conway If you want help educating your children with interesting things about math, check out Denise Gaskins' Playful Math store. We're currently running a huge back-to-school sale on ALL of my playful math ebooks, problem-solving activities,…
Morning Coffee: That Moment of Epiphany – 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 article from Dan Meyer... “It…
Thinking Thursday: George Washington – 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: Twelve Cards – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game helps students visualize the meanings of multiplication and fractions. 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. Twelve Cards Math Concepts: multiplication or fraction models. Players: two or more.…
Thinking Thursday: Triangle Sums – 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…
Math Game Monday: Penterimeter – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game challenges students to visualize their strategy in two dimensions. 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. Penterimeter Math Concepts: pentominoes, perimeter. Players: two players or two teams. Equipment:…
Thinking Thursday: Circles in Circles – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: At its heart, geometry is all about seeing connections and relationships. 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…
A Poet Completes the Square – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Sue VanHattum and I were chatting about her young adult math books. [Sue would love to get your help with beta-reading her books. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for details.] In the first book of the series, Althea and the Mystery of the Imaginary Numbers, Althea learns that Tartaglia came up with…
Happy Pythagorean Triple Day! – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Thursday is Pythagorean Triple Day, one of the rarest math holidays. The numbers of Thursday’s date: 7/24/25 or 24/7/25, fit the pattern of the Pythagorean Theorem: 7 squared + 24 squared = 25 squared. Any three numbers that fit the a2 + b2 = c2 pattern form a Pythagorean Triple. Celebrate with Pythagorean Math Puzzles…
Math Poetry: The Square – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: Writing helps students stretch their thinking and make sense of new ideas. 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…
Math Game Monday: Fifty Sticker Race – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game helps young players internalize the counting patterns in our base-ten number system. 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. Fifty Sticker Race Math Concepts: counting to fifty, how…
Playful Math 181: The Symmetry Carnival – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
If you're looking for entertainment to while away the winter (or summer, for those of us up north!) --- or if you're 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…
Math Game Monday: Krypto Insanity – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game will push each player's mental math skills to the limit. Calculators optional. 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. Krypto Insanity Math Concepts: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, order…
Playing to Learn – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
“Play and rigor support each other. “When students are invited to play with math, they learn more deeply, more robustly, and remember more consistently. “Play is promoted as something that can engage kids and give them a more positive attitude about school, but it’s easy to assume that it’s not useful for learning, when in…
Thinking Thursday: Paul Lockhart – 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…
Mental Math: Three Basic Principles – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
“We know that algorithms are amazing human achievements, but they are not good teaching tools because mimicking step-by-step procedures can actually trap students into using less sophisticated reasoning than the problems are intended to develop.” — Pam Harris, Math Is Figure-Out-Able Podcast Whether you work with a math curriculum or take a less-traditional route to…
Math Game Monday: Pattern Block Mastermind – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game encourages logical thinking about permutations --- the different ways blocks can be arranged in a row. 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. Pattern Block Mastermind Math Concepts:…
Thinking Thursday: Sets with Rules – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Writing to Learn Math: Measurement is our way of connecting numbers to the things we find in the world, in daily life. 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: 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…