Christmas maths
Try one of these Christmas games or activities for some family fun and you'll also be doing brilliant maths at home this Christmas
Can you take a photo with five/ten/two and a half berries?
Go for a walk with your child and take turns to challenge each other to frame a photo with a certain number of berries
★ Pass it on ★On your turn talk about the number of berries that you can see from different directions.
There is lots of amazing maths in nature. Ask for example: "Can you find a holly leaf with an even number of prickles?"
Share making a paper Christmas star
Have fun folding and cutting to make different paper stars
★ Pass it on ★Before you unfold the paper ask "How many points do you think this star will have?"
Christmas abacus games
Fifty fifty
☺Each player chooses less than fifty or more than fifty
☺One player presses the random display button
☺Race to sing "The holly and the ivy " if the abacus displayed matches your choice
☺Play several times☺Make up a new variation of the game
★ Pass it on ★Talk about the patterns you can see and how you use them to work out the number"
Within 10?
☺Each player chooses a number and writes it down
☺One player presses the random display button
☺ If any player has a number no more than 10 more or 10 less than the displayed number they score a point
☺ Press again
☺Race to collect five points
★ Pass it on ★Talk about any patterns you used to know how close your number is to the number displayed.
How close are you?
☺Each player chooses a number and writes it down
☺One player presses the random display button
☺ Work out together who's number is closest to the number displayed on the abacus
☺ Score a point if you are closest
☺Race to collect five points
★ Pass it on ★Talk about how you can use the patterns to find which number is closest.
Let's play....?
☺Have fun making up your very own new game.
Share making some natural Christmas decorations
Do an amazing job talking about lots and lots of maths and have fun making your very own decorations.
Play Christmas Card Shuffle
Sort through some Christmas cards, talk about shape and size. You will also need a small table or tray.
☺Take turns.
☺Player 1 chooses a number.
☺Player 2 tries to find that number of cards to cover the table/tray.
★ Pass it on ★On your turn to place the cards talk about how you are making your choices. For example you might say "I need a tall narrow card next."
Try playing the game only choosing cards of the same shape.
Make up your very own new version of the game.
Play Collect Five
You will need some Christmas cards.
☺Spread the cards on the floor or table.
☺Take turns to collect a set of cards with a total of five crowns/birds/trees/bells... you choose.
☺Race to collect the most cards
★ Pass it on ★On your turn talk about how you are making your choices. For example you might say "I am going to collect bells because I'll get three more cards making a total of eight cards."
Make up your very own new version of the game.
Explore amongst some trees. Can you spot a sum?
★ Pass it on ★Talk about the sums that you can see.
Sing the twelve days of Christmas together
Depending on what your child would find fun you could try finding:
☺Ask: How many presents all together ?
☺Try pairing the numbers to make 13.
☺Ask:How many different ways could we make ...e.g.twenty presents?
☺Are there any amounts that we couldn't make?
Get involved and encourage others with the Christmas maths you share on facebook or by e-mail Sue @ numberchase.co.uk and I will add your ideas to this article.
I am passionate to encourage families because the best way for you to help your child with maths at home is to have fun together. Get started with Number Chase games and activities.
