Family Math Activities for Everyday Moments
Created by leading scholars in the field of mathematics education—and with input from professionals in fields like yours—our playful and engaging family activities transform everyday household routines into math learning opportunities. No special skills or materials required. Many activities also available in Spanish.
Cooking
Daily Routines
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Games & Play
Reading Together
Early Math Toolkit for Professionals Serving Families
Boost your own knowledge and confidence for engaging families around early math.
Math Snacks
Brief but mighty ideas to uncover math in everyday moments and start math conversations anywhere! Also available in Spanish.
Lining Up
Instructions:
“Look at your cards and then line up alternating one equilateral triangle and one right triangle.” Create and hand out cards so students can make an ABAB pattern with shapes, objects, or colors. (Materials required.)
Modification:
For variety, create AAB, ABB, or ABC patterns. “Everyone line up two blues, one red, two blues, one red. What do you notice?”
Lining Up
Line Up with Patterns:
Gather materials: Print out or create cards with shapes, objects, or colors on them. Choose a pattern like square, triangle, square, triangle, and then give out the cards to students so that there are enough of each card to make the pattern.
Instructions:
Have students use their cards to line up in a pattern that you specify. For example, “Everyone should line up in an ABAB pattern using equilateral triangles and right triangles.” You can also use different pattern units, such as AAB, ABB, or ABC patterns.
Out and About
Find the Math:
When walking, driving, or on public transportation, notice shapes and numbers in the world around you.
Talk About the Math:
What shapes do you see in the signs we're passing? How do you know that is a triangle? What number is on that license plate?
Around the House
Find the Math:
While getting dressed, talk about sizes, shapes, and patterns on clothing.
Talk About the Math:
“Look at the pattern on your shirt! it goes: narrow blue stripe then wide green stripe. Now, you show me what comes next. What other patterns do you see?”
About DREME Family Math
Development and Research in Early Mathematics Education (DREME) is a network of scholars across the country who collaborate to advance math teaching and learning for children from birth to age 8. DREME Family Math prepares professionals who work with families to support parents and caregivers in promoting young children’s mathematical learning.
