The long, slow-paced days of
summer are perfect for … math. Yes,
absolutely joyful, beautiful, unexpected, mind-blowing mathematics! Before you just assume I’ve spent too long in
the sun today, please let me explain.
Math
instruction during the school year is at a set pace (too fast for some, too
slow for others). It is often taught as
stand-alone topics which do nothing to help children develop a deep
understanding of concepts; and, frequently it is taught by people who don’t
really like math at all. I already know
that at the beginning of the next school year I will hear my 6th
graders explain that they don’t remember much of the math they learned in 5th
grade because they didn’t do any math after state testing. They only did “fun” things. It hurts just to type that one. Luckily my 7th and 8th
graders know better than to utter those words.
I don’t give my students “summer
packets” unless a parent requests it. I
don’t dislike them. I think they have a
place, but the reality is that very few get done, copy costs are a problem, and
kids dislike anything that looks like school in the summer. That doesn’t mean that math skills should be
ignored for the summer if for no other reason that the “summer slide”
diminishes learning for students and makes the beginning of the next school
year more difficult. New pacing guides
for course instruction at the middle school level severely limit review
time. My district limits beginning of
the year skill review to one week. Think
about the student who comes in with below grade level skills and having spent
no time on math over the summer. The
sequential nature of math means they need to have the prior skills mastered to
be successful at the next level. For
those kids, it will be like hiking up a mountain with a 50-pound pack while
everyone else carries a 5-pound pack.
1. Shopping – this is something we
have to do anyway and a great way to review unit rates, discounts, and
taxes. Using sales flyers, online ads,
or in the store, ask your child to figure out the better buy – which size
bottle of juice costs the least per ounce?
If you need “x” number of hot dogs per person for a party, how many
packs do you need to buy (and don’t forget the buns)? Have them calculate the tax on a purchase,
figure out a tip at the restaurant, or split the cost of a bill.
2. Cooking/Baking – have your child
recalculate recipes for different sizing needs.
If a recipe makes 3 dozen cookies, how would the ingredient measurements
change to make 4 ½ dozen? A meal that
serves 10, but you only need to feed 6 – let the kids calculate it for you.
3. Online Games – really easy
considering how hard it is to disconnect them from the electronics at
times. Thirty minutes twice a week at a
grade-level appropriate game can really be a game changer with a wide selection
of free games available.
4. When I Grow Up I Want to Be – an oldie
but goodie with a math twist. This is a
great research project for kids (at home or at the local library). Have them research a desired job to find out
education requirements, what they actually do, how much they make, the outlook
for future jobs, etc. A mini-book report
combines multiple subjects. Lot of opportunities
to create tables – list of math skills required; education required; salaries
in different parts of the country or world; steps they would need to take to
achieve this goal, etc.
5. Plan a Trip – let them research
and plan a future trip (even if it is a distant dream at this time). From expenses to itineraries, to local customs,
and group cost savings, this one can be as big or small of a project as you
want. To incorporate more computer
skills, consider having them design a brochure listing different options for
the trip.
6. Art – you can get them practicing
geometry without too much effort if you disguise it in art.
a. Using a 10 x 10 grid, have them
create a picture using only whole or half blocks filled in. Then have them calculate what fraction of
blocks each color is.
b. Create a unique picture using
only triangles (or only circles, or rectangles, or whatever shape you want). For a twist, tell them they can’t leave any
spaces between the shapes – also known as tessellations.
c. Give kids a supply of straws and
yarn and ask them to create three-dimensional shapes. Let them figure it out.
d. Investigate the art of M.C.
Escher.
