Photo Courtesy – Bethany Nowviskie
The dog days of summer are almost here and what could be worse than making your three year old sit still and learn math? But he definitely needs to brush up his concepts before school starts; so what’s a parent to do! Like hopscotch, these are 5 fun outdoor kindergarten math games your little one will love to play.
Kindergarten Math Games for the Yard and Playground
1. Shape search
Math skills – shapes, counting
Buy a set of 2D or 3D plastic shapes (or collect your own) and hide them in the yard. Ask your child to hunt for them and place them inside a hoop placed in the center of the yard. How many can he find? Once he finds them all, ask him to sort them out in different ways. Ask him questions to make him think about the shapes he found. Give him a prize for successfully playing this kindergarten math game.
2. Domino numbers (group game)
Math skills - counting
Instruct players to stand in a circle and hand out a bunch of dominoes with different numbers on them. Depending on the numbers they get, each child must perform an action. For example,
· Jump thrice if your domino has 5 spots.
· Turn around if your domino has 2 spots.
· Swap places with your best friend if your domino has more than 4 spots.
· Hop around the circle if your domino has 3 spots.
3. Cross the line if … (group game)
Math skills – computation, number sense
Ask the kids to line up and face you. When you say, “Cross the line if 1+1=2 (or any other age appropriate math problem), the kids have to decide whether they cross the line or stay in place. The child who doesn’t cross the line when he should or doesn’t when he should, leaves the game. Continue playing until only one player is left.
4. Count the Petals
Math skills – counting, matching and ordering
Have a look around your yard for flowers that are in bloom. Collect a bunch of fallen flowers and ask your child to count their petals. When he’s done counting, ask him to match flowers with the same number of petals. If possible, ask him to order the flowers from those with the least to those with the most number of petals.
5. Ball games
Math skills – counting and estimation
Get a large colorful ball and use it to teach your little one some math while playing in the yard. These could include:
· Count the number of times both of you can catch the ball without dropping it.
· Can the two of you roll the ball 10 times between you in half a minute?
· Can he predict how many times you can bounce the ball in a minute?
Simple kindergarten math games like these make math practice a breeze and help the little ones develop a positive attitude towards the subject.
Kindergarten Math Games for the Yard and Playground
1. Shape search
Math skills – shapes, counting
Buy a set of 2D or 3D plastic shapes (or collect your own) and hide them in the yard. Ask your child to hunt for them and place them inside a hoop placed in the center of the yard. How many can he find? Once he finds them all, ask him to sort them out in different ways. Ask him questions to make him think about the shapes he found. Give him a prize for successfully playing this kindergarten math game.
2. Domino numbers (group game)
Math skills - counting
Instruct players to stand in a circle and hand out a bunch of dominoes with different numbers on them. Depending on the numbers they get, each child must perform an action. For example,
· Jump thrice if your domino has 5 spots.
· Turn around if your domino has 2 spots.
· Swap places with your best friend if your domino has more than 4 spots.
· Hop around the circle if your domino has 3 spots.
3. Cross the line if … (group game)
Math skills – computation, number sense
Ask the kids to line up and face you. When you say, “Cross the line if 1+1=2 (or any other age appropriate math problem), the kids have to decide whether they cross the line or stay in place. The child who doesn’t cross the line when he should or doesn’t when he should, leaves the game. Continue playing until only one player is left.
4. Count the Petals
Math skills – counting, matching and ordering
Have a look around your yard for flowers that are in bloom. Collect a bunch of fallen flowers and ask your child to count their petals. When he’s done counting, ask him to match flowers with the same number of petals. If possible, ask him to order the flowers from those with the least to those with the most number of petals.
5. Ball games
Math skills – counting and estimation
Get a large colorful ball and use it to teach your little one some math while playing in the yard. These could include:
· Count the number of times both of you can catch the ball without dropping it.
· Can the two of you roll the ball 10 times between you in half a minute?
· Can he predict how many times you can bounce the ball in a minute?
Simple kindergarten math games like these make math practice a breeze and help the little ones develop a positive attitude towards the subject.