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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,…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…