Activity 1
Based on a counting story, the child draws his thoughts and writes in a mathematical expression (ex 5 + 3 = 8)
Start by making your own little book together, print out the attached PDF, or take four white A4 papers and fold in half. The book is then used for both activities. Then let the children paint and make a nice cover, with the name “My arithmetic events”. You can also buy a simple little booklet that you decorate nicely.
How do you do it then?
Then give the child a complete counting story (PDF can be found below) and paste it at the top of a page in the book. Then let your child draw and write in math language, for example add a mathematical explanation (3 + 2 = 5) to the story. You can of course invent and write your own stories that are adapted to your child and her everyday life.
Activity 2
Write your own counting story based on a mathematical expression (ex 3 + 2 = 5)
The second activity is to let the children write their own arithmetic stories that fit a specific mathematical expression. This is done to develop imagination and creativity and to put mathematics into words and get it connected to children’s reality.
How do you do it then?
Make your own small cards with different mathematical expressions, which you then paste or type in, at the top of the first page of the book (for example 3 + 2 = 5, 5 + 8 = 12, 10–4 = 6, 12/3 = 4, 5 * 4 = 20). Choose the level of difficulty according to your child’s level of knowledge, better with simple numbers than difficult ones. It is the ability to put into words a mathematical expression that is the point of the activity.
In order for the children to understand the game, you can start with an example of a short story based on a specific expression, for example 3 + 2 = 5. It is important to point out that the story does not have to be particularly long. What does 3 + 2 = 5 really mean?
An example of a counting story could be:
There are three of us in our family, mother Alba, father Olof and I.
On Saturday, Amina and her mother Fatima will visit. How many people do we need to set the table for?
Answer: 3 + 2 = 5. We need to set the table for five people (the unit is important, in this case people).
