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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…
Thinking Thursday: Something Interesting – 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 Journal: The 1-2-3 Puzzle – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
There's still time to check out my Math Journaling Adventures project and discover how playful writing activities will help your students learn mathematics. Preorder your books today! Meanwhile, here's a math puzzle to share with your kids... Write down any whole number. It can be a single-digit number, or as big as you like. For…
Only Two Days Left for Math Journaling Adventures – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
If you’re a parent trying to help your child learn math... Or a teacher looking for creative ideas for your classroom... Or a homeschooling parent hoping to enrich your student’s understanding... Then you’ll love the Math Journaling Adventures series because these logbooks guide your children to explore mathematics at a deeper level, building a strong…
Math Game Monday: Make a Square – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game features strategic play for all ages and builds 2-D visualization skills. 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. Make a Square Math Concepts: 2-D visualization, slope, parallel and…
Podcast: Using Math Journals and Games – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
I have a new podcast interview, and I think you’ll enjoy it! Check out Cindy Rollins’s The New Mason Jar on your favorite podcast app, or listen on the website: Go to the podcast ❱ Here’s an excerpt… Writing to Learn Just as a nature journal records our children’s explorations and discoveries in nature, so a…
Thinking Thursday: Triangle Possibilities – 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 Journaling Adventures: It Keeps Getting Better – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Did you know that, with our recent stretch goals, each Math Journaling Adventures logbook now features 94 amazing ways to play math with your kids? And every pledge pushes us closer to the next bonus, which means more new activities for every backer. Don't miss out on the excitement. Order your copy today: Visit the…
Math Journal: Three Quick Number Games – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Here are three quick math games you can fit in whenever you have a few minutes' free time. Have fun playing math with your kids! And if you enjoy these games, check out my Math Journaling Adventures project to discover how similar playful writing activities can help your students learn mathematics. Preorder your books today!…
Math Game Monday: Racetrack – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This game introduces students to vector notation while offering a fun strategic challenge. 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: Ben Orlin – 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 Journal: Playing with My Own Ignorance – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Mary Everest Boole, wife of English mathematician George Boole, once described algebra as “thinking logically about the fact of our own ignorance.” This definition made me chuckle. Like any human being, I am ignorant on many things, but I usually avoid thinking about that. So I wondered what would happen if I took Mrs. Boole’s…
Math Adventures Merchandise to Inspire Your Kids – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
My new math book series, the Math Journaling Adventures, just launched on Kickstarter. And I'm trying several new reward options I've never done before. (The "rewards" on Kickstarter are all the various things you can buy with your support pledge.) This is going to be so much fun! Check it out: Math Journaling Adventures Merchandise…
Math Game Monday: Fraction Train – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
Upper-elementary and middle school students will master a variety of fraction concepts with this fun domino game. 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 Math Concepts: proper and…
Thinking Thursday: That’s Mean 2 – 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…
Morning Coffee: When Math Makes You Feel Stupid – 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 newsletter from Dan Finkel, which…
Why I Love the Math Journaling Adventures Series – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
My Math Journaling Adventures Series is now available on Kickstarter. I love these books! Writing is one of the best ways to learn math deeply, because wrestling our thoughts into words forces us to figure out what we really believe. It’s the natural, no-stress way to build our children’s understanding and confidence. Hit the button…
Math Journaling Adventures Launched: Order Your Copy Today – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
And so it begins: the Math Journaling Adventures is LIVE on Kickstarter! Check It Out ❯ ⭐ Don't delay! First-day backers get the best deals. Choose one of the Earlybird rewards: Earlybird 2-Logbook Sets in Digital, Paperback, Spiral-Bound, or Hardcover Earlybird Everything Bundles in Digital or Paperback To have a successful campaign, we need plenty…
Math Game Monday: Number-Tac-Toe – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
This delightful hundred-chart game features a perfect balance of number patterns and strategic thinking. 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-Tac-Toe Math Concepts: counting, place value, number patterns, strategic…
Podcast: Making Math a Delight – Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math
I have a new podcast interview, and I think you'll enjoy it! Check out Pam Barnhill's Homeschool Better Together on your favorite podcast app, or listen on the website: Go to the podcast ❱ Here's an excerpt... When Kids Get Stuck The first thing to do when our kids get stuck is to celebrate, because…