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Math Game Monday: The Nickel Game – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This logic game will get your elementary students thinking about numbers and strategy. 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. The Nickel Game Math Concepts: counting larger numbers, less-than and…
Thinking Thursday: Ratio Puzzles – 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 Division – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Mental math is doing calculations with our minds, though we can use scratch paper or whiteboards to make notes as we work. Doing mental math, 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, the same structures that underlie…
Math Game Monday: Tiguous – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game promotes flexibility with mental addition and subtraction. Skills practice for elementary students, and fun enough for adults to enjoy playing along! 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.…
Thinking Thursday: Squarable Numbers – 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…
Two Hands-On Craft Projects – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Here are a couple of fun foldable projects to try with your kids. Both of the projects below start with squares of paper. Do you know how to convert any piece of paper into a square? Here are two methods. Can you tell why they work, how each method creates a true square? What if…
Math Game Monday: Fraction Train with Cards – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game challenges students to think strategically about ordering 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. Fraction Train with Cards Math Concepts: proper and improper fractions, comparing and ordering…
Thinking Thursday: The Mighty Cats – 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…
Mental Math: Early Multiplication – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Children learn best through interaction with others, and mental math prompts can lead to fascinating conversations, listening as our kids apply their creativity to the many ways numbers interact. With mental math, students master the true 3R’s of math: to Recognize and Reason about the Relationships between numbers. And these 3Rs are the foundation of…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
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: 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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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: 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…
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: 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…
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…
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 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…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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…