Summertime Math

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 6^th graders explain that they don’t remember much of the math they learned in 5^th 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 7^th and 8^th 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.

 

Here are some ideas to help your middle schooler avoid the slide without the worksheets and have a great start to the next school year:

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. 

 

I hope you find some inspiration for incorporating math into your summer to keep those minds growing and give your child a great start to next year!