Easter Math Is Fun Math

Easter is an exciting time for kids. But the good thing is that you can use that excitement to help kids develop their math skills. Turning regular math into Easter math makes math much, much more exciting. You can use Easter math games or Easter Brain Teasers and the kids will beg you for more. 

Below are some simple ways that you use Easter math in the classroom or at home

Bunny Hop

Here is a simple Easter math game that is maths is fun you can use to practice any basic math skill. You start by selecting a start line and a finish line. Next two children compete to jump from the start to the finish by taking two bunny hops every time they answer a question correctly. You can use any questions that help kids to practice the skill that you want. For example you could ask ‘6 times 8', ‘half of 34' or ‘What is the number before 87'? The first child to answer correctly takes two jumps and the first one to reach the finish line is the winner. 

Easter Counting

You may know the old favorite counting game Buzz. But did you know that you can easily turn this into an Easter math game by replacing the word ‘Buzz' with an Easter word. Try using ‘Bunny' or ‘Easter Egg' instead. The kids sit in a circle and count around a circle but replace the number 7, each multiple of 7 and every number containing a 7 digit with the word ‘Bunny'. If a child says the number instead of saying ‘Bunny' they are out.

This is a tricky game that requires concentration and a good knowledge of multiples. You can also try playing it with other digits instead of 7. For example, you could use 5 or 10 for an easier version or use 8 or 9 to make a more challenging version.

Easter Brain Teasers

Brain teasers are a great way to get kids thinking math. Many number problems can also be made a lot more interesting by using Easter as a theme for the problem. Here are a few that you can start with. 

The Easter Bunny has 15 Easter Eggs in a Basket. He gives our 3 then collects 7 more then gives 6 children 2 eggs each. How many eggs in the basket now?

You can easily change the numbers in this one and then have a completely new problem to present.

Tom has been dyeing eggs. He used green and red dye. If he has dyed 17 eggs and he has 5 more red eggs than green eggs. How many eggs does he have of each color?

How many eggs did I find in the Egg Hunt? I found between 10 and 30. The number is divisible by 4 but not by 7 or 8. I found an even number of eggs.

There are many different ways to use Easter math get kids adding, multiplying, comparing and using other math skills. You'll find that kids will definitely agree that Easter makes math load more fun. 

LAUNCH OF NUMSKILLS TRAINING

Details of the course:

Are there children struggling with mental maths in your school? Is this stopping them from feeling confident and comfortable with numeracy in the classroom? Education charity, Reading Quest incorporating Numeracy Quest, has specifically designed Numskills for these pupils in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University.

We are delighted to launch our Numskills training in your area. Numskills involves using set activities to boost children’s confidence in the mental maths areas of the curriculum that they are finding it hard to access. These activities involve using everyday items, such as playing cards, dice and counters.

The aim is to train school staff (either TAs or teachers or even trained volunteers) to be able to deliver the activities in groups with those children who are most struggling and get little or no support at home. They are designed for children aged from Year 1 to Year 4 but could also be played with pupils who are very weak in Years 5 and 6.

Our specialised tutors have been piloting Numskills teaching with pupils in schools in Oxford and we are thrilled by the positive changes we can see in the children that we are working with. Please see the ‘Further information sheet for schools’ attachment for further details.

This training session will:

·      Give an insight and understanding of the Numskills materials and the rationale behind them

·      Enable familiarisation with the games and activities which rehearse and develop key mathematical skills, knowledge and understanding so delegates will be prepared to support children through the programme

·      Give delegates confidence in the subject knowledge required to support children

·      Show delegates that maths is fun and that everyone can do maths  (be a mathematician)

How to attend

Please fill out the booking form and e-mail it to us. The cost is a special pilot price of £250 per delegate which includes the training and a copy of the materials.

Details of the trainer:

Katherine Milner is an effective mathematics teacher, having taught across Key Stages 1 to 3 and is an experienced trainer delivering to teachers, subject leaders, teaching assistants, parents and governors. As a primary mathematics consultant, previously with Northamptonshire County Council and now working independently, Katherine has a proven ability to bring about improvements in the teaching and learning of mathematics. She is an Associate Academic in ITT at The University of Northampton supporting students on BA and PGCE courses and is also a tutor on the Mathematics Specialist Programme. She is passionate about mathematics despite not always having found it an easy subject herself, and strives to foster this enthusiasm in others – adults and children.